Sewer system limitations scuttle Port 2 plans

Editor's note: The original version of this story contained errors regarding names and affiliations. They have been corrected.

Three weeks ago, commissioners of Port District 2 were ready to purchase property on Skamokawa Creek for boat moorage and overnight lodgings.

Then reality hit.

This past week, commissioners of the Skamokawa Water and Sewer District informed port officials that the Skamokawa sewer system can't take any more connections. In fact, the system probably doesn't have enough capacity to handle the port's planned laundromat.

Port commissioners held a special meeting Tuesday to discuss the situation, and at the end, they authorized Attorney Tim Hanigan to rescind the port's purchase offer which was approved at the commission's April meeting.

Water and sewer district commissioner Oliver van den Berghe went over the details. The system treats its sewage in a drain field located under the Skamokawa Vista Park playfield. The system currently treats about 7,700 gallons per day in the septic field's three lines, and the state Department of Health (DOH) has informed the district it can't allow any new connections.

The district developed a fourth line now held in reserve, capacity would be a bit over 10,000 gallons. However, van den Berghe continued, state DOH parameters would limit the system to 80 percent of potential capacity to leave capacity to handle emergencies. Van den Berghe said the potential expansion would be limited to approximately 8,214 gallons per day, which wouldn't be enough to handle much expansion, including the port district's planned laundromat.

The DOH calculates that a laundromat washing machine generates 500 gallons per day; 1,000 gallons per day from two washers would boost the daily load to 8,700 gallons, well over the state limit of 8,214 gallons.

"The problem is our bureaucratic overlords in Olympia," van den Berghe said. "They basically say we're full."

The news disappointed the port commission.

"I hate to lose out on an opportunity," said Chair Lori Scott. She asked if an appeal were feasible, but van der Berghe and fellow commissioner Brenda van Kanagen doubted that plan would be successful.

After discussion, port commissioners agreed they would have to set aside their plans for expansion along the creek.

They also agreed they would support the water and sewer district in efforts to expand the system, including expansion of the drain field on Vista Park property.

Van der Berghe said the district would have to hire a consulting engineer to evaluate the system and what could be done to facilitate the expansion.