Building of sewage plant is finally to begin

The Brightwater sewage-treatment plant has been years in coming, bringing with it political posturing, costly lawsuits, verbal sparring and community mistrust.

As of this morning, however, the plant being built by King County but located in Snohomish County is officially under way.

For some, that's a welcome step in a long bureaucratic process. Plant development started more than 10 years ago.

For others, it's more of the legal nightmare they've been fighting for nearly five years. One group of opponents still has litigation pending that could delay the project past its intended 2010 opening date.

But with a groundbreaking scheduled at the main plant site this morning and work already begun in Bothell on the pipes, it appears the construction of King County's latest sewage plant will eventually be completed.

Except for a small plant in Carnation, it could be the last sewage plant King County builds until at least 2030. At least that's what King County officials hope.

The pending legal action "does not stop us from proceeding," said Christie True, Brightwater's project manager.

For $1.6 billion, one of the fastest-growing areas in both counties will continue to have somewhere to flush its waste. King County has maintained for years that without the plant, being built at the junction of Highways 9 and 522, development of the surrounding area would eventually have to stop. King County officials have cited for years a letter from the state Department of Ecology questioning whether current plant capacities could handle the expected population increases.

But opponents of the plant's location fear seismic concerns will be the death of a drinking-water aquifer also serving the region.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) says it believes the South Whidbey Island fault extends through the northern tip of the 114-acre property. The Sno-King Environmental Alliance, which is challenging King and Snohomish counties in court over the plant's construction, says that risk is too great to take.

"If there are fault lines as the USGS and our consultants expect, then they legally cannot put the plant there," said Corinne Hensley, a spokeswoman for the alliance. "We still believe we can stop construction of this plant."

Snohomish County officials sided mostly with the alliance until a $70 million settlement with King County in October. With that money now for mitigation, Snohomish County officials are focusing on how to build the plant to higher standards rather than stop it.

"This was an issue that we had a responsibility on years ago," said Snohomish County Councilman Dave Somers, who once again represents District 5, where the plant is being built. "I probably should have pushed harder myself."

Somers, who returned to office this year, conceded he hadn't done enough work on the subject six years ago, during his first term on the council.

There's likely to be some form of protest during today's ceremony, though not endorsed by the environmental alliance, Hensley said. Angry e-mails, although lessening, still find their way into Somers' inbox.

King County says some negative reaction was expected. Politics are inevitable in placing sewage plants, as are the opposition and legal questions.

"I think we anticipated even more controversy," True said. "But what we got has just made it a better project."

Christopher Schwarzen: 425-783-0577 or cschwarzen@seattletimes.com