Sunnyside City hears $11 million wastewater improvement plan; public comment period opened

Sunnyside City Council on Oct. 6 received a public presentation on a package of wastewater system improvements funded in part through the Washington Department of Ecology State Revolving Fund (SRF) and other programs.

The presentation, given by Mr. Scott, outlined work at two lift stations and multiple treatment-plant upgrades meant to reduce equipment wear, increase capacity and improve safety for city crews. “Half of that is forgivable principal, which is Ecology's way of saying grant without using the word grant,” Mr. Scott said, describing the SRF award the city has already secured.

The projects discussed include rehabilitation of the Ninth and Lincoln Lift Station to improve access and reduce pump cycling; capacity upgrades at the Exit 67 Lift Station (which serves industrial areas and areas to the south and southeast of the city); headworks and grit-basin repairs at the wastewater treatment plant; replacement or modernization of the plant’s UV disinfection system; and other miscellaneous plant work including a new storage building and energy-efficiency improvements.

Why it matters: the city presented estimated costs and potential utility-rate impacts so residents and councilors can evaluate tradeoffs before construction funding is finalized. Mr. Scott said the combined price tag for the projects as scoped and applied for is “a little over $11,000,000,” with estimated annual debt service of roughly $500,000–$600,000 depending on loan terms and grants. Based on current connections and the assumed funding mixes, he said, the debt-service share would be about $10–$11 per equivalent residential unit (ERU).

City staff described project phasing tied to funding availability. The Exit 67 lift-station and the headworks effort were being pursued through a Public Works Board application; staff learned this week that the Public Works Board did not accept the Exit 67 project in the latest round because of high statewide demand for funding. The Ninth and Lincoln lift-station work had an application pending with a “SEED” funding board (as described by staff), and a separate SRF application to Ecology was filed for remaining plant work.

Councilors asked about schedule and whether the figures assumed particular grant shares. Mr. Scott said timelines varied by project: some design components could be ready to bid in late 2025 or winter; other plant work may not be funded until early 2026. He emphasized that grant availability will affect the amount shifted to ratepayers: “we always are hoping to get more grant than expected, but we hate to come and do it the other way and say, ‘oh, we’ll get 50% grant,’ and then not get that,” he said.

Environmental and regulatory checks were described as part of Ecology’s funding conditions. Staff said they performed the typical SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) review and Ecology’s SERP screening (a procedural review Ecology uses to assess community impacts). Mr. Scott said the projects are generally replacements or in-place upgrades — “we're taking a lift station that's already in place, and we're replacing it” — and that the sites are not located in mapped floodplain or wetlands. He said a cultural-resources review found no historic properties in the immediate footprints; if artifacts or tribal concerns arise during construction, the city would notify the appropriate tribes.

Public process: the presentation triggered a 60-day comment period required by the funding agreement; Mr. Scott and staff asked residents and stakeholders to submit written questions or comments during that window.

What’s next: staff will continue pursuing identified funding sources, return with amended task orders if design-phasing changes are required, and seek council direction before accepting loan/grant offers that would materially change rate impacts.