(Photo added 7:02 pm, California/Admiral stoplight out, among others)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 6:21 PM: Getting word of outages in Admiral, North Delridge. Anywhere else?

6:28 PM UPDATE: The outage is up on City Light’s site – more than 3,100 homes and businesses, some Alki, Admiral, stretching southeast to North Delridge and High Point. (The image above is a screengrab.) Their site says they’re still investigating the cause; we’re checking with media relations. The outage zone includes some businesses in the Admiral District, including restaurants.

6:38 PM: We had been in the Admiral District literally minutes before this outage hit, and are now heading back that way to check on what’s affected. Please note that stoplights are out on Avalon and reportedly in the Admiral area too – if a stoplight is not working, treat it as a four-way stop. Still seeking information on what caused this.

6:50 PM: Just talked with Mark Van Oss from media relations at City Light. He says they have crews out trying to find out what caused the outage, but haven’t figured it out yet. Meantime, we continue to get reports of businesses out in Admiral – Doug says Safeway is on generator power but not letting more customers in, for example. P.S. If you’re reading this by smartphone, here’s the link to the mobile-friendly version of City Light’s outage map.

7:12 PM: Admiral Theater‘s affected as well as other businesses in the area (Metropolitan Market included as well as previously mentioned grocery store). GM Dinah Brein tells WSB they had to cancel 6:30 pm screenings. (Update: They did get power back in time for the next screenings.) Via Twitter, Circa says it’s closing early because of the outage.

7:28 PM: Multiple commenters reporting their power’s back on. (update) But as other commenters report – not everyone.

7:53 PM: A few more areas – more in Admiral, and at least one commenter on Harbor – are reporting power back. STILL no word on the cause, though.

8:02 PM: Just talked again with Mark Van Oss from SCL – they found the cause; a tree branch on a wire. (He didn’t have information on exactly where, though.) It’s been removed and he says they’re bringing everybody back online slowly – could take another 3/4 hour or so to finish that process.

8:33 PM: The SCL map indicates everybody should have their power back. (If you don’t, let them know – and let us know.) Thanks again to everyone who texted, commented, called, tweeted, e-mailed, and otherwise joined in sharing information these past two hours-plus.

8:52 PM: Followup call from SCL – the errant tree branch was on Ferry Avenue.

Starting today, crews will take wastewater flows from underground pipes and move those flows to an above ground bypass – pipes that will run the length of the site directly adjacent to the ferry terminal.

Once completed, the bypass will allow crews to shut down normal pump station operations in order to perform the pump station upgrades. The bypass will connect to a temporary pump station currently under construction. Once the temporary pump station is completed, it will be in use for the duration of the project.

The initial bypass work is expected to take up to two weeks, requiring up to four days of running above-ground diesel pumps 24 hours per day. No overnight work will be performed, but staff will be on site to monitor the system. The pumps come equipped with a silencing enclosure to reduce noise levels and will be placed on the east side of the site in an effort to mitigate noise impacts.

What to expect

· Three days of work requiring the use of two above ground diesel pumps running 24 hours/day, with the possibility of a fourth day if needed

· Possible Saturday work to complete bypass cut over. If needed, work hours would be 8:00 – 5:00

· Approximately two weeks of intermittent daytime diesel pump usage as system is tested

· No overnight work

· Staff on site overnight to monitor system during 3-4 day period

· Flagger to continue moving traffic through site and in and out of the ferry terminal entrance

(Recent aerial of the Barton Pump Station work zone, by Long Bach Nguyen)
If you use the Fauntleroy ferry dock or travel through the area, here’s a big announcement from King County as its Barton Pump Station Upgrade Project north of the dock continues:

Starting Thursday [tomorrow], the north ferry entrance lane and toll booth will reopen. The lane and toll booth have been closed since January due to construction activities at the Barton Pump Station. With the opening of the north lane and toll booth, a uniformed police officer will no longer be on site.

During the closure, crews have conducted activities essential to the pump station upgrade, including jet grouting, which is a soil stabilization technique that will allow a safe underground work zone.

As work on the pump station progresses, there may be a need for occasional daytime lane closures. King County will notify commuters and the community of any short-term or day-long lane closures.

What to expect

· There will no longer be a uniformed police officer to direct traffic
· Flagger to continue moving traffic through site and in and out of the ferry terminal entrance, when necessary
· Work to continue on site, beginning with excavation of the pump station
· Heavy equipment on site
· Work hours typically 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday

Some who live near 63rd/Beach Drive might lose power for a while later today when repairs are made to that pole following a small fire. That’s according to the Seattle City Light staffer who was keeping watch on the area until the repair crew arrived. He says loose wiring sparked the fire. You’ll note in our photo, this is the same pole that houses one of the Seattle Police surveillance cameras (no activation decision for the system yet; here’s our coverage archive).

Starting as early as Monday, April 29, crews will take wastewater flows from underground pipes and move those flows to an above ground bypass – pipes that will run the length of the site directly adjacent to the ferry terminal.

Once completed, the bypass will allow crews to shut down normal pump station operations in order to perform the pump station upgrades. The bypass will connect to a temporary pump station currently under construction. Once the temporary pump station is completed, it will be in use for the duration of the project.

The initial bypass work is expected to take up to two weeks, requiring four days of running two above-ground diesel pumps 24 hours per day.

No overnight work will be performed, but staff will be on site to monitor the system. The pumps come equipped with a silencing enclosure to reduce noise levels and will be placed on the east side of the site in an effort to mitigate noise impacts.

What to expect

· Up to four days of work requiring the use of two above ground diesel pumps running 24 hours/day

· Approximately two weeks of intermittent daytime diesel pump usage as system is tested

· No overnight work

· Staff on site overnight to monitor system during four day period

· Work is weather dependent and may be rescheduled if inclement weather is predicted

· Flagger to continue moving traffic through site and in and out of the ferry terminal entrance

· Work hours typically 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday

The project is expected to wrap up late next year.

THURSDAY NOTE: This work is now expected to start in early May.

Councilmember Jean Godden, chair of the Libraries, Utilities, and Center (LUC) Committee, will discuss legislation tomorrow that will prevent Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) from shutting off water to homes in which children reside.

“This legislation is based on a simple premise: no child should lack access to clean drinking water and sanitation,” said Councilmember Godden.

In 2012, SPU shutoff water to 138 households registered in the low-income Utility Discount Program (UDP). Fifty percent of these low-income households – 68 in total – contained minor children (under 18 years old).

At tomorrow morning’s LUC meeting, nonprofit providers from St. Vincent de Paul, the West Seattle Helpline, the Ballard Food Bank, and the Salvation Army will share their stories of children who endured water shutoffs.

“A teacher told me that one of his students showed up at school unwashed and unclean – the result of his family having their water shutoff,” said Councilmember Godden. “Human service providers have told me of families using buckets filled with water from neighbors’ homes to flush toilets and of parents unable to properly bathe their children or wash their hands after changing diapers.”

Under current law, a household eligible for the low-income UDP is eligible for an emergency assistance credit up to $340. This emergency payment can only be accessed once per year. Although a generous subsidy, one reflective of Seattle’s commitment to protecting and enhancing the health, safety, and general welfare of its people, it was insufficient for 68 low-income families with children.

Councilmember Godden’s proposal modifies SMC 21.76.065(C) to make qualifying households containing a minor eligible for an emergency assistance credit twice every 12 months.

Given Seattle Public Utilities’ bi-monthly billing cycle and time frame for issuing bill delinquency and shut-off notices, this change will allow low-income households with minor children to avoid water shutoffs.

Using 2012 as an example, a second chance for the 68 households with children would amount to an estimated $20,000 cost to SPU. This is a small subsidy in the context of SPU’s almost billion dollar annual budget.

The agenda for the meeting at 9:30 am tomorrow (live on Seattle Channel if you can’t be there) includes this letter from Luckie explaining how Helpline cannot meet all the requests for help that it receives.

(Recent aerial of Barton Pump Station and project area, by Long Bach Nguyen)
The King County Wastewater Treatment Division says things might be noisier than usual at Barton Pump Station next to the Fauntleroy ferry dock right now, because a power outage has required them to use a generator:

Power was unexpectedly lost at the Barton Pump Station around 3:45 pm today. No overflows were reported, and crews are currently investigating the cause. A generator will be running onsite until power can be restored to the station.

The Barton Pump Station Upgrade includes an onsite generator, which will be housed in an underground vault, for unexpected power loss such as today’s occurrence.

The pump station also had a power outage last June (WSB coverage here) – and that one DID lead to an overflow.

(Screengrab from City Light map, at peak of outage)
4:28 AM: Another power outage in High Point (thanks to the two residents who just texted us). Not sure how long ago it started, but it’s just appeared on the Seattle City Light map; about 1,000 homes/businesses (aka “customers”) affected. Parts of Gatewood and Morgan Junction are involved again this time too. A similar, though larger (3,200+ customers) area lost power on Wednesday morning; some were out for up to two hours.

4:43 AM: We’re getting reports the power is back, at least for some. Not yet reflected on the SCL map.

5:02 AM: The map now shows the outage over. Since much if not all of the same area was part of the Wednesday morning outage, we’ll follow up with City Light later this morning.

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.

(Added 2:34 am: Screengrab from City Light map, at outage’s peak)
1:59 AM: Power went out a few minutes ago here at WSB HQ on the Upper Fauntleroy/Gatewood line. So far we have reports from further north in Gatewood and one in High Point. Nothing on the City Light map just yet (we’re calling). Anyone else?

2:07 AM UPDATE: Pending a drive around to check boundaries, so far via WSB, Facebook, and Twitter reports, Gatewood/Fauntleroy/High Point/Morgan Junction/Seaview are affected. We’ve looked south from outside the house and points south such as Arbor Heights look OK.

2:11 AM UPDATE: Just checked the City Light recording again – they say more than 3,100 homes and businesses are out of power. Estimated restoration time, which is always a guesstimate this early on: 8 am.

2:28 AM UPDATE: It’s on the City Light map now, and the total affected is past 3,200 homes/businesses (aka “customers”). The cause is listed as “investigating.” If you’re seeing a power crew in your area, let us know – the sudden sighting of repair work somewhere may be the first hint of what caused this.

3:06 AM UPDATE: High Point’ers say theirs is back. City Light has sent its first news release but there’s nothing in it we haven’t already reported – no word on the cause, still.

3:13 AM UPDATE: Lots of new information as we correspond with SCL’s John Gustafson – a thousand people have their power back; the cause has been determined as “failed main stem underground cable,” and he adds, “We should continue to see more customers restored in next half hour or so.”

3:20 AM UPDATE: We’re back after about an hour and a half. Thanks again for all the reports – text (206-293-6302 any time with breaking news), e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, etc. – that gave us all an idea on the boundaries long before SCL’s map came online.

3:47 AM UPDATE: Still more than 700 out, according to the City Light map.

POSTSCRIPT: All power was restored by 4:27 am, says SCL – 2 1/2 hours for the last ones to get service back. (Just for the record, though their news release cites a 2:07 am start, since we were in the outage zone, we can verify it was actually around 1:50 am; as the timestamp shows, we launched this coverage around 1:59.)