Drafter
Clerk 05/25/2004
Title
A MOTION to approve an evaluation of alternative project delivery methods for the Sammamish reclaimed water project in an effort to reduce overall project costs.
Body
WHEREAS, the Washington state legislature expressly encouraged the development and use of reclaimed water through Washington's Reclaimed Water Act (chapter 90.46 RCW), by stating:
It is hereby declared that the people of the state of Washington have a primary interest in the development of facilities to provide reclaimed water to replace potable water in nonpotable applications, to supplement existing surface and ground water supplies, and to assist in meeting the future water requirements of the state, and
WHEREAS, policy CO-6 of countywide planning policies states that aggressive conservation efforts shall be implemented to address the need for adequate supply for water resources, including water reuse and reclamation, and
WHEREAS, policy CO-7 of countywide planning policies states that water reuse shall be encouraged for high water users such as parks and golf courses, and
WHEREAS, policy CO-8 of countywide planning policies states that when planning for future demand on wastewater treatment and conveyance, alternatives such as reuse shall be incorporated into plans as viable options, and
WHEREAS, policy TPP-8 of the King County adopted regional wastewater services plan ("RWSP") states that the county shall continue water reuse and explore opportunities for expanded use at existing plants, and shall explore water reuse opportunities at all new treatment facilities, and
WHEREAS, policy WRP-1 of the RWSP directs the county to actively pursue the use of reclaimed water and to accelerate the development of a water reuse program to help meet the goals of the county to preserve water supplies, and
WHEREAS, policy WRP-3 of the RWSP states that reclaimed water shall be investigated as a possible significant new source of water to enhance or maintain fish runs and provide additional water for the region's nonpotable needs, and
WHEREAS, policy TPP-7 of the RWSP directs King County to explore the possibility of constructing one or more satellite treatment plants in order to produce reclaimed water, and
WHEREAS, policy WRP-2 of the RWSP directs the King County executive to prepare a water reuse work plan that includes a list of potential pilot projects and associated costs and to submit that work plan to the council within twelve months, and
WHEREAS, policy WRP-13 of the RWSP directs the King County executive to continue to fund the demonstration projects from the wastewater utility rate base, and
WHEREAS, the King County executive provided the reuse work plan to the King County council in December 2000 that identified the Sammamish valley reclaimed water facility as the selected satellite treatment plant to be constructed to produce reclaimed water to maintain fish runs, provide additional water for non-potable needs for large water users including agriculture and recreation and also provided a budget using the utility rate base, and
WHEREAS, the King County executive aggressively undertook the development of the Sammamish facility on a fast track in order to accelerate the development of reclaimed water to preserve water supplies during drought and to maintain fish runs of endangered species, and
WHEREAS, the King County executive determined that providing reclaimed water to the Sammamish valley from the Brightwater facility using existing infrastructure would provide much larger volumes of reclaimed water at a lower cost and would provide greater environmental benefits to the river by substituting reclaimed water for river water, and
WHEREAS, the King County executive determined that an interim reclaimed water demonstration facility would provide many of the benefits of the original facility at a lower cost with the potential of being used at other locations in the future and provide a training facility for King County operations and maintenance staff in membrane treatment technology, and
WHEREAS, the King County council in the 2004 Budget Ordinance, Ordinance 14797, provided that a report describing the proposed interim facility, the plan for providing reclaimed water to the Sammamish valley from the Brightwater plant and the life-to-date projects costs, such report to be approved by motion of the council in order to authorize the expenditure of the six million dollars appropriation for wastewater CIP project 423528, and
WHEREAS, the King County executive has provided the report requested by the council along with a proposed base budget for the interim reclaimed water demonstration facility and the executive has directed the King County department of natural resources and parks to evaluate alternative delivery methods in order to determine if lower costs can be achieved, and
WHEREAS, the King County executive will have provided the results of the evaluation of alternative delivery methods to the council by December 2004;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
1. The Proviso Report for the King County Council - Sammamish Reclaimed Water Project, dated April 2004 is hereby approved.
2. The executive is directed to complete an evaluation of alternative delivery methods for the Sammamish valley reclaimed demonstration facility that could reduce capital costs for the project. By December 31, 2004, the executive shall submit to the council a report identifying and evaluating the cost savings associated with each
alternative delivery method considered for the Sammamish valley reclaimed demonstration facility.