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Heathfield pipe repair - emergency clean up and repair efforts

On Aug. 15, 2024, a pipe at the Heathfield Pump Station in Bellevue failed, sending wastewater into Vasa (Squibbs) Creek and Lake Sammamish. 

Project description

A worker walking through a construction area with excavators, a truck, and other construction equipment around.
A crew member walks through the construction area behind the Heathfield Pump Station.

During maintenance work at the Heathfield Pump Station on Aug. 15, a valve being used to drain a 24-inch diameter force main suddenly closed. (A force main is a pressurized sewer pipe that typically uses pump(s) to move wastewater uphill.) This caused a surge in water pressure in the force main, causing it to break, sending wastewater into Vasa (Squibbs) Creek and Lake Sammamish. The force main pipe that was damaged on Aug. 15 was installed in 1983 and was not part of the 2022 upgrade project.

County crews and contractors quickly mobilized to repair the broken pipe and restore operations at the Heathfield Pump Station. Wastewater flows were transferred to the second force main, which was installed in the 2022 upgrade project. The pump station is currently operating with the single force main. Additional repairs to the damaged force main will be needed to ensure efficient and reliable service during the rainy season and beyond.

Creek restoration and cleanup

King County’s contractor completed cleanup activities around the Heathfield Pump Station in Bellevue, adjacent roadways, and in Vasa Creek in 2024. Water quality tests returned to normal in August 2024. Our sediment sample results showed some bacteria is present in the creek sediment following the pipe break, which can be expected for an urban creek due to stormwater runoff pollution. Following guidance from Public Health – Seattle & King County, King County concluded that there is no remaining public health risk associated with the wastewater overflow in the creek, and no further cleanup was planned.

We coordinated with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the City of Bellevue regarding potential habitat impacts to the creek from the overflow. No concerns were identified, and no habitat restoration is proposed.

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