The Clark Regional Wastewater District is set to receive $1.6 million in state and federal grant funding for its Curtin Creek Septic Elimination Program.
A news release stated the district’s partnership with U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell and state Reps. Sharon Wylie and Monica Stonier secured $800,000 apiece from state and federal sources.
“The district thanks Senator Cantwell and state Representatives Wylie and Stonier for their efforts to secure these investments that will better this neighborhood, the environment, and our community,” said Commissioner Norm Harker, the president of the district’s board of commissioners. “We will continue to pursue these opportunities to benefit other neighborhoods that have similar needs.”
The Curtin Creek project is located in the Sunnyside neighborhood near Northeast 88th Avenue and Northeast 102nd Street. The $2.25 million project will extend sewer services to 72 properties “in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood,” which features failing septic systems that have created environmental concerns for homes and nearby waterways, stated the release.
The septic systems in that area were constructed in the 1970s.
“This project will accelerate the elimination of the septic systems while providing additional financial assistance to homeowners when they connect to sewer,” stated the release.
Property owners in the project area will save on average more than $20,000 when they connect to public sewer, stated the release. The district will fund the remaining project costs with local funding.
The district’s service area includes approximately 1,500 septic systems, many of which are approaching the end of their design life.
The district created the septic elimination program “to protect water resources by providing a pathway to enable customers to move away from septic systems and connect to the community’s safe and reliable wastewater infrastructure,” stated the release.
Through the program, the district has made service available to more than 300 properties and connected more than 80 homes. Many homeowners received financial incentives to aid in their connection, stated the release.
