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King County Local Services, community celebrate start of construction on innovative wastewater project that will transform Fall City’s economic future
August 26, 2024
SUMMARY
King County Local Services began construction on the $10 million Fall City on-site septic system project. The system will clean wastewater, improve community health and increase economic vitality for the downtown business district in unincorporated King County.
STORY
The King County Department of Local Services celebrated the start of a major construction project that will transform the way most downtown Fall City businesses manage on-site septic systems.
On Friday, Aug. 23, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Councilmember Sarah Perry, county and community leaders gathered on the steps of Aroma Coffee to celebrate the milestone in the Fall City on-site septic system project.
When septic systems in the downtown core of the unincorporated King County community are connected and the on-site pre-treatment facility is completed in 2026, local business can grow in a way that protects human health and protects local waterways.
“We have been working toward this day for decades,” said Angela Donaldson with the Fall City Community Association. “It took a village to get us here – our entire community, King County and our state representatives made this long overdue project a reality.”
“This project is King County Government at its best,” Executive Dow Constantine said. “We collaborated across departments - from Public Health, to Natural Resources and Parks, to Roads and Local Services. By listening and working with the community and the Snoqualmie Tribe, and advocating for support from state leaders, we took this project from design to groundbreaking, together.”
When the project is completed, 46 local businesses and residences in the Fall City Business District will be connected to a state-of-the-art, shared septic system that will carry wastewater to a new underground pre-treatment facility in nearby Bernard Memorial Park. The water will be cleaned to the highest Washington State Department of Health standards. The reclaimed water will keep Bernard Memorial Park green year-round.
“These are the moments we live for,” said John Taylor, Director of Department of Natural Resources and Parks. Taylor is the former director of Local Services and made this a priority project. “I am so proud of this team, this community, the state for coming through with the funding. This is government at its best.”
HISTORY
When platted in 1887, Fall City residents built long, skinny parcels on the Snoqualmie River riverbank to provide maximum access to fresh, clean water and access to the waterway as a transportation system.
In the 1930s, the Washington Department of Highways (now the Washington State Department of Transportation) built what would become State Route 202 to provide access to the greater Snoqualmie Valley – along the banks of the Snoqualmie River. Through eminent domain, the state took about 40 feet from most parcels and most structures were pushed back. This short move had a lasting impact.
Today many structures sit directly on top of those century-old septic systems which are beyond capacity, difficult to access and prohibitively expensive to upgrade. A 2016 survey conducted by Public Health – Seattle & King County revealed that only 16 of the parcels within the Fall City Business District had conforming, on-site septic systems. The remaining properties had failing, inadequately sized or non-conforming systems, with many properties having no record on file at all.
The old septic systems also put local groundwater and the Snoqualmie and Raging Rivers at risk. This impacted the local economy.
The Fall City community created coalitions and worked with state and local leaders to get a series of Washington State Department of Commerce economic recovery grants totaling $10 million dollars. King County contributed $1.5 through Capital Construction Bonds.
"We are marking a pivotal moment for Fall City residents, and visitors to their business district, as we break ground on this $10 million transformative septic system project. This investment not only fortifies our commitment to safeguarding our local waterways and the health of our community in the Snoqualmie Valley, but also paves the way for economic growth," King County Councilmember Sarah Perry said.
"As we replace this century-old infrastructure with a state-of-the-art facility, we are investing in a vibrant future for our communities, businesses, and residents, both within Fall City and beyond, for generations to come,” she said.
Leon Richardson, Director of Local Services, added: "I'm thrilled to witness the start of this vital project that promises to revitalize Fall City by replacing outdated infrastructure with a modern septic system, safeguarding our waterways and community health. I look forward to our continued partnership with the community as we move forward together towards a sustainable and prosperous future.”
Local Services hosts monthly office hours at the Fall City Library.
CONSTRUCTION
Construction is now underway. Crews will begin by installing the drain field at Bernard Park and the main service lines for the businesses. Once delivered in early 2025, the treatment system will be assembled and installed underground. Once commissioned, the septic tanks will be installed through the end of 2025 with final connections to the businesses and residences in 2026.
Crews will work Monday through Friday during daylight hours with few impacts to SR 202. All road closures will be posted at kingcounty.gov/mycommute
QUOTES
- King County Executive Dow Constantine: “This project is King County Government at its best. We collaborated across departments - from Public Health, to Natural Resources and Parks, to Roads and Local Services. By listening and working with the community and the Snoqualmie Tribe, and advocating for support from state leaders, we took this project from design to groundbreaking, together.”
- King County Councilmember Sarah Perry: "We are marking a pivotal moment for Fall City residents, and visitors to their business district, as we break ground on this $10 million transformative septic system project. This investment not only fortifies our commitment to safeguarding our local waterways and the health of our community in the Snoqualmie Valley, but also paves the way for economic growth. As we replace this century-old infrastructure with a state-of-the-art facility, we are investing in a vibrant future for our communities, businesses, and residents, both within Fall City and beyond, for generations to come.”
- Leon Richardson, Local Services Director: "I'm thrilled to witness the start of this vital project that promises to revitalize Fall City by replacing outdated infrastructure with a modern septic system, safeguarding our waterways and community health. I look forward to our continued partnership with the community as we move forward together towards a sustainable and prosperous future."
- John Taylor, Director of King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (and former Local Services Director): “These are the moments we live for. I am so proud of this team, this community, the state for coming through with the funding. This is government at its best.”
- Angela Donaldson, Fall City Community Association: “We have been working toward this day for decades. It took a village to get us here – our entire community, King County and our state representatives made this long overdue project a reality.”
LINKS
MEDIA CONTACT
Brent Champaco, Department of Local Services, brent.champaco@kingcounty.gov, 206‑477‑9094