The torn up grass and dirt at
Boulevard Park might be a temporary eyesore but the park’s outdated sewer
system is long overdue for replacement. Sewage leaks at the park’s surface have
been dealt with in the past and the current construction aims to eliminate
future hazards.
Previously, overuse and overflowing
sewer wells have lead to occasional pooling of water and sewage at the park’s
surface according to Bellingham’s Parks and Recreation Department manager
Marvin Harris. Without replacement, there is more of an environmental risk as
the current sewer setup is nearly 45-years-old, Harris said.
Gina Austin, one of the project
engineers, added that the current pumps “just don’t have the capacity” needed
to service the park. Alarms have alerted of excess sewage in the past and the
overflows have never had the chance to spread beyond the containment areas
according to Harris.
“The current system is a
rudimentary pump system like you would see on a home,” project manager Michael
Olinger explained in an email. The new system, which services the restrooms and
the Woods Coffee at Boulevard Park, will be much more industrial, Olinger said.
The new sewer structure will also include
a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system that will allow
officials to “control and monitor the pumping system from the sewer treatment
plant,” Olinger said. This will allow for close monitoring of the system and
faster action in the event of a sewage overflow.
Austin confirmed that the entire
sewer line is being replaced as well. This $587,918 project is being funded by
the City Sewer Fund according to project signs posted in the park.
Harris explained that after almost
nine years, the project “finally got funding” and “it is time to do some
upgrading.” The replacement of the Boulevard Park sewer system will allow for a
better park experience for future visitors because it will prevent restroom
closures and potential sewage overflows, Harris said.
There is currently no health
concern regarding the construction process according to Harris and Olinger. “The soils that have been excavated for
the installation of the sewer line have been tested and were found to be
classified as solid waste (garbage) but not hazardous waste,” Olinger clarified.
Inside of the fence at Boulevard Park, mounds of soil are visible
and presently sitting, covered by tarps. Harris explained that there is a
membrane under the contaminated soil and that this is standard practice.
“There is no health concern with things sitting there [in the
park],” Harris said. He added that the reason for the fence around the
construction site is partly to contain the contaminated soil and to prevent
further contamination. Harris continued to explain that they are following the
regulations of the Department of Ecology and the contaminated soil will ultimately
be moved from the park in special containers to a recycling plant.
With the construction and
landscaping projected to continue into July, some park-goers have expressed
concern for the timing of the project. In April, a group of students who were
slack lining at Boulevard Park said they were disappointed in having another
summer of construction. Last year, shoreline improvements lead to limited access
at the park.
“There are three seasons in
Washington,” one of the students, Mel Vautaux, said. “There’s rain, more rain
and construction.”
Due to permits, the sewer
rehabilitation has to take place now, Harris said. “The dryer the weather, the
better.” Harris explained that the soil must to be dry in order to excavate and
replace the sewer line and pumps.
At the current time, the
construction is ahead of schedule and some landscaping has already been
completed according to Harris. He explained that “the project was in the design
state for quite a while” and they feel “confident” that it’s ahead of schedule.
Currently, “the pipe is 90 percent
complete with grass sod on top of it,” Harris said. He is hopeful that by June,
everything, including landscaping, will be complete.
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