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Department of Ecology flagged lagoon solids and freeboard issues; council debates temporary processing vs. larger pump-and-haul
Summary
A Department of Ecology inspection and staff reports identified limited freeboard and solids accumulation in Orting’s wastewater lagoons; councilists debated immediate pump-and-haul spending versus testing trailer-mounted dewatering equipment.
Council reviewed an urgent wastewater item after staff packet materials and an Ecology inspection letter dated July 14 raised concerns about lagoon solids accumulation and limited freeboard in Orting’s sequencing batch reactors. The Ecology letter and engineering notes advised timely corrective action to avoid unauthorized discharges and to ensure permit compliance.
Public works staff described operational constraints: one SBR basin is out of service due to liner degradation and another requires relining; limited freeboard reduces storage capacity ahead of the rainy season; SCADA responsiveness is slow and a blower is being run manually to maintain dissolved oxygen; and some isolation valves and flow meters need replacement. The packet noted that bids for a pump-and-haul contract were due Oct. 20 and that the Department of Ecology characterized lagoon solids management as an immediate concern.
Council members discussed alternative approaches. Council member Moore and others recommended pursuing a rapid cost-benefit analysis on a trailer-mounted dewatering option (vendor FKC previously offered to trial equipment at no cost) before committing to larger pump-and-haul expenditures. Council member Sprow emphasized the packet ambiguity and requested clarity on whether survey, procurement, and temporary processing would be approved by Ecology without a formal facility-plan amendment. Staff noted Ecology needs the temporary equipment and processing plan included in the general sewer plan before granting approvals; that requirement constrains immediate equipment procurement.
Given the potential for permit consequences and the approaching rainy season, council asked staff to get clear, documentable answers: whether FKC can still provide a trial deployment, realistic timelines for rented equipment delivery, and a rough order-of-magnitude cost comparison between on-site dewatering and off-site truck-and-dispose operations. Council directed staff to return with those clarifications and flagged the item to be considered as a standalone agenda item on Oct. 29.
