Streaming Media

Presentation Abstract

The waters of Puget Sound are highly connected, and pollution released in one location impacts water quality miles and miles away. Deep waters of Puget Sound, where sewage treatment plants discharge, circulate toward the south and inland. Nitrogen discharged from wastewater treatment plants violates the Washington State water quality standards for dissolved oxygen in South Puget Sound and other shallow bays around the Salish Sea as a result. The Department of Ecology is requiring all publicly owned treatment plants to upgrade technology to nutrient removal under the Clean Water Act, with a 5-year goal of holding the line at existing pollution loads while utilities plan for the transition. Multiple Tribes have expressed concerns around the role of sewage and treaty-protected resources at risk. Advanced wastewater treatment has been on the horizon for decades, and 16 plants already have transitioned to advanced nutrient removal technology from Shelton to Sequim. Among the sewage treatment plants, discharges from those serving Tacoma, Pierce, and King County represent over two-thirds of the nutrient pollution, which impacts water quality in South Puget Sound. In the face of growing populations, climate change, and the urgent need to recovery salmon, the region needs to rethink its approach to sewage. Fortunately, some are stepping up with decentralized approaches and innovative reuse programs, and the speakers in this session will provide specific examples. Tribal governments have demonstrated the need to modernize approaches to wastewater. The Squaxin Island Tribe has relied on reclaimed water for irrigation. The Tulalip Tribe is evaluating using highly treated effluent to augment flows as part of a salmon recovery project. Local governments are planning for the future with new building requirements that embrace reclaimed water. This session will explore the future of sewage in the Southern Salish Sea (Tribes, NGOs, local governments).

Session Title

Ocean Productivity & Nutrients

Conference Track

SSE3: The Circle of Life

Conference Name

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)

Document Type

Event

SSEC Identifier

SSE-traditionals-335

Start Date

26-4-2022 9:45 AM

End Date

26-4-2022 11:15 AM

Genre/Form

conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)

Subjects – Topical (LCSH)

Sewage--Environmental aspects--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Water treatment plants--Environmental aspects--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Sewage disposal plants--Environmental aspects--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Water--Pollution--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Sewage--Purification--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Water treatment plant residuals--Washington (State)--Puget Sound

Geographic Coverage

Puget Sound (Wash.)

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.

Type

Text

Language

English

Format

vnd.ms-powerpoint

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Apr 26th, 9:45 AM Apr 26th, 11:15 AM

Rethinking Sewage in the Southern Salish Sea

The waters of Puget Sound are highly connected, and pollution released in one location impacts water quality miles and miles away. Deep waters of Puget Sound, where sewage treatment plants discharge, circulate toward the south and inland. Nitrogen discharged from wastewater treatment plants violates the Washington State water quality standards for dissolved oxygen in South Puget Sound and other shallow bays around the Salish Sea as a result. The Department of Ecology is requiring all publicly owned treatment plants to upgrade technology to nutrient removal under the Clean Water Act, with a 5-year goal of holding the line at existing pollution loads while utilities plan for the transition. Multiple Tribes have expressed concerns around the role of sewage and treaty-protected resources at risk. Advanced wastewater treatment has been on the horizon for decades, and 16 plants already have transitioned to advanced nutrient removal technology from Shelton to Sequim. Among the sewage treatment plants, discharges from those serving Tacoma, Pierce, and King County represent over two-thirds of the nutrient pollution, which impacts water quality in South Puget Sound. In the face of growing populations, climate change, and the urgent need to recovery salmon, the region needs to rethink its approach to sewage. Fortunately, some are stepping up with decentralized approaches and innovative reuse programs, and the speakers in this session will provide specific examples. Tribal governments have demonstrated the need to modernize approaches to wastewater. The Squaxin Island Tribe has relied on reclaimed water for irrigation. The Tulalip Tribe is evaluating using highly treated effluent to augment flows as part of a salmon recovery project. Local governments are planning for the future with new building requirements that embrace reclaimed water. This session will explore the future of sewage in the Southern Salish Sea (Tribes, NGOs, local governments).