On June 17, the City of North Bend celebrated the completion of its largest ever capital project, Wastewater Treatment Plant High Priority Improvements. This critically important infrastructure investment supports the health and well-being of residents, city staff, and our local environment.
Former and current elected officials, city staff, the SnoValley Chamber of Commerce and the North Bend Downtown Foundation, Trane Technologies, the State Department of Enterprise Services, Gray and Osborne and other project partners joined in cutting the ceremonial red ribbon on Monday. Speakers included Public Works Director Mark Rigos, PE, City Engineer Don DeBerg, PE, City Administrator David Miller, Manager Jeff Leamon, State Representative Lisa Callan, former Councilmember Ross Loudenback and Mayor Mary Miller.
“This is a momentous day for North Bend – not only for our residents, nonprofit organizations and business owners, but also for the Snoqualmie River, the wildlife that lives amongst it, and for city staff, the frontline workers who are here every day maintaining this essential piece of infrastructure,” commented Mayor Miller.
The high priority improvements project cost $38 million, with funding supplied through General Facility Charges, revenue bonds, and rate paying residents.
“This investment by our taxpayers is incredibly valuable. Without trust and involvement in our local government, we could never bring to fruition an upgrade of this magnitude,” commented Mayor Miller.
Wastewater treatment facilities are essential for maintaining a healthy ecosystem, preventing disease, and ensuring safe water for our community. Improvements to North Bend’s facility include:
- A new headworks
- A second oxidation ditch
- Two clarifiers
- A new UV/electrical building
- A new aerobic digester
- A new screw press
- Safety improvements and underground piping
These improvements also add the ability to take additional capacity, such as the Meadowbrook Sewer Utility Local Improvement District, a ULID that will expand public sewer throughout the western portion of the City. Approximately 80 percent of residents are currently connected to the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), with about 20 percent remaining on private septic drain fields.
During the ceremony, Public Works Director Mark Rigos acknowledged the hard work of many project partners, city officials, and staff who were instrumental in analysis, design, management, construction, inspection, and contract negotiation, ultimately resulting in cost savings of about $20 million.
Frontage improvements are anticipated to begin along Bendigo Blvd/Highway 202 following the installation and connection of the Meadowbrook Sewer ULID pipe by 2026.
Want to learn about how local wastewater treatment works in North Bend? Please stay tuned for opportunities to tour the WWTP! For more information about the High Priority Improvements Project, please visit www.northbendwa.gov/306/Wastewater-Treatment-Plant-HPI-Project.
Pictured here: Former Councilmember Ross Loudenback, Mayor Mary Miller, city staff, State Representative Lisa Callan and project partners cut the ceremonial ribbon on June 17.
Pictured here: Mayor Miller speaks about the importance of the Wastewater Treatment Plant High Priority Improvements Project.
Pictured here: Public Works Director Mark Rigos, PE, speaks about the importance of the Wastewater Treatment Plant High Priority Improvements Project.