West Seattle power outage leads to Lowman Beach sewage overflow

| Environment | Utilities | West Seattle news

Another effect of the power outage covered here early this morning: The Murray Pump Station at Lowman Beach lost power, leading to an overflow, according to this news release from King County:

King County’s Murray Avenue Pump Station is operating normally after the system was disrupted by a power outage that hit the West Seattle area just before 2 a.m. Wednesday.

An estimated 18,000 gallons of wastewater overflowed for 20 minutes through an emergency outfall into Puget Sound near Lowman Beach Park, which prevented raw sewage backups and equipment damage. Wastewater Treatment Division utility crews responded quickly and deployed a portable emergency generator in the pump station as a source of temporary power.

Division employees notified health and regulatory agencies about the overflow. King County will install a permanent generator at the pump station as part of the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) project.

The Murray Avenue station pumps wastewater from West Seattle to the West Point Treatment Plant in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood. West Point treats about 133 million gallons of wastewater daily, and up to 440 million gallons during rainy weather.

Construction of the CSO project is scheduled to start later this year; its main component is a million-gallon storage tank replacing a block of residential buildings across from Lowman Beach Park.

Rhonda Porter February 20, 2013 (9:49 am)

Any word on the sewage situation at Harbor West Condos?

WSB February 20, 2013 (10:03 am)

I don’t have any specifics out of SPU still, checking back on size and scope, but here’s what the spokesperson told me yesterday: “SPU was notified over the weekend (on Saturday, Feb 16) that there was a sewer leak. Our spill response crew responded and determined the leak was coming from a broken sewer line at the condo complex. They contacted the property owners about the leak and a formal “notice of violation” is being issued to ensure the necessary repairs are done to fix the leak. As a precaution, SPU posted the sign asking the public to stay out of the water as waste water may be leaking into Puget Sound. SPU is currently working with Seattle King County Public Health to determine if testing of the water is required.”

Rhonda Porter February 20, 2013 (10:09 am)

lots of crap happening on Beach Drive lately ;) I sorry… I couldn’t help myself.

I do prefer the slow news days!

Duckitude February 20, 2013 (10:16 am)

The accuracy of the spill volume may be correct, but not likely, since KCWTD does not have an actual flow-meter in place. They use estimates based on some equation that is apparently acceptable to State Dept. of Ecology.
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As for arriving quickly, far from accurate. Generally, the mobile power generator arrives in 15-25 minutes. This time 40-45 minutes and didn’t start the generator until close to 3 a.m.
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I know because I live right there next to the pump station.
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It’s the usual “positive spin” from KCWTD.

Jeff platt February 20, 2013 (10:31 am)

I love that the 5million $$$$ fedral grant allows us to watch our water go thro that with these stupid cams
Maybe they cam zoom in real close to the sewage leak n watch n keep everyone safe

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