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Sewer plan approved by Ecology; Poulsbo moves water plan draft to state review
Summary
Utilities staff told council the sewer system plan was approved by the Department of Ecology and that Poulsbo increased its share of treatment capacity to 1.2 million gallons per day; the water system plan draft was expected to be submitted to the Department of Health this month with a proposed water‑rights study and conservation measures to manage projected growth.
City utilities staff reported progress on two functional plans that support Poulsbo’s comprehensive plan and capital program. Charlie said the sewer plan, prepared with BHC Consultants, earned Ecology’s approval in April after about nine months of comments; as part of the planning work Poulsbo secured a 1,200,000 gallons‑per‑day treatment share at the Central Kitsap treatment plant (of a 6,000,000 gpd plant), which staff described as roughly 20% of the plant’s capacity. "We recently increased that to 1,200,000 gallons per day of that 6,000,000 treatment plants," Charlie told council.
Charlie walked council through the sewer CIP and county projects that affect Poulsbo. City projects in the six‑year CIP total about $6,000,000 while county projects where Poulsbo bears a proportionate share total approximately $25,000,000; Charlie also noted larger treatment‑plant work at the county level (an $80,000,000 solids/liquids project where Poulsbo has an approximate 20% share). The staff sewer plan includes recommendations for adding two field FTEs over the planning period to meet level‑of‑service goals and identified near‑term capacity projects including the Johnson and Norum pipeline and the SR‑305 force main.
On water, Charlie said the city anticipates submitting the water‑system plan draft to the Washington State Department of Health later in the month; the plan covers source analyses (five wells at three sites), storage and pressure‑zone modeling (four primary pressure zones and subzones), and conservation opportunities. Staff flagged water‑rights constraints and proposed three approaches: commission a long‑range water‑rights analysis by a hydrogeologist, expand conservation measures (irrigation limits, native landscaping, even/odd watering days), and explore additional intertie or purchased capacity from Kitsap PUD. Council asked staff to add a program request for a water‑rights analysis in next year’s budget cycle and to return with financial detail on water and sewer plans during upcoming budget workshops.
