Wastewater Outfall Relocation Project

WWTP OUtfall Map

Overview

The Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Outfall Relocation project will install a new WWTP outfall made of a 48-inch diameter high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe.

From the plant, the pipe will go 1,631 feet to the shoreline, where the pipe will reduce to a 42-inch outside diameter HDPE pipe for 1,030 feet with an 86-foot diffuser angled to the northeast at approximately 24.5 degrees to better match the bidirectional current.The total length of the pipe will be 2,661 feet from the plant continuing into Guemes Channel. 

The new pipe will be east of the current outfall, terminate in deeper waters farther from the shoreline, and be able to convey larger effluent volumes. The new pipeline will be placed under existing roadways within City right of way. The main purpose of this project is to replace the existing damaged WWTP sewer outfall and relocate it to an area with greater access for future maintenance.


Project Development

The project team is currently working through the federal, state, and local permitting process. Below is the list of the permits and approvals the project is currently working to obtain. 

  • NWP 7 Outfall Structures and Associated Intake Structures (USACE)  Pending
  • Section 7 Consultations – NOAA concurrence In-progress, USFW concurrence received 2/24/2022
  • Section 106 Consultation (SHPO and the local Tribes)  Delayed due to an inadvertent discovery, pending resolution between FEMA, the local Tribes and DAHP (Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation)
  • Hydraulic Project Approval (WDFW)  Issued 11/5/2021
  • Interlocal Agreement (Port of Anacortes)  Completed
  • Aquatic Use Authorization (DNR)  Pending
  • SEPA MDNS (City of Anacortes)  Issued 9/27/21
  • Shoreline Conditional Use (City of Anacortes & Ecology)  Issued 12/20/21
  • Type 4 Shoreline Substantial Development (City of Anacortes)  Issued 12/20/21
  • Operation Permit for Blasting (City of Anacortes)  Pending
  • NPDES Construction Permit (Ecology)  Issued 3/1/22
  • National Environment Policy Act (FEMA) Pending

Due to the diversity and complexity of construction, the project will be divided and constructed in phases. Currently the project has two phases, an Upland Phase and a Marine Phase.

Project Phasing & Schedules

Currently the project has two phases contracted. As of August 2022, the two phases have the following statuses:

  • Upland Phase

    • The project team is working to obtain all federal permits. Currently the project team is still working through the Section 106 consultations.
    • Based on the pre-procurement efforts performed in March of 2022, the City is revaluating the Upland phase design to look at cost savings through an internal value engineering process.
    • Construction start date to be determined
    • Coordination with all utilities to limit or eliminate any temporary impacts is ongoing. No temporary impacts are expected at this time.

  • Marine Phase

    • The City has successfully completed the procurement of the materials for the marine portion of the project. Currently the contractor is completing fabrication of the anchors as the pipe is arriving in Anacortes. 
    • Completing the permitting process has been delayed due to the presence of a potentially eligible cultural resource site, which requires lengthy additional FEMA consultation with all interested parties (tribe(s), state agencies, etc.). This process is expected to take several months to complete, which will determine the most appropriate mitigation measures to allow the project to move forward. As a result of this discovery the USACE will not issue a Nation-Wide Permit and FEMA cannot issue final project approval until the cultural resource issues are resolved. We will keep you informed as the process progresses, but we are now expecting work to be initiated sometime in late Summer of 2023.

The project team will work hard to complete construction of each phase as quickly as possible to minimize disruptions to residents. We plan to have construction crews work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Construction crews may work after 5 p.m. and on weekends to help minimize long duration impacts. We will notify residents if and when weekend or late-night work needs to occur.


Upland Phase: Construction Detour Routes

The contractor will be conducting construction activities in work zones. Some of these work zones will require detour routes. See the link below for work zone locations, timing expectations, and detour route locations (if required).

Construction Phasing and Detour Plan 


Upland Phase: Blasting in Residential Areas

The project will conduct controlled rock blasting along Third Street and the north end of U Avenue. Controlled rock blasting will be performed by a Washington State licensed contractor. As a federally funded project, the project team is required to follow federal and state guidelines for blasting in residential areas. WAC 296-52-720 is the state’s explosive-blasting ordinance for local jurisdictions.

For residents within 200 feet of the blast zone (east end of Third Street and following U Avenue out to Guemes Channel) who have justifiable concerns their house or property may incur damage as a result of this project, please reach out to Jordan Widener of Widener & Associates, environmental consultant, at jordancw@widener-enviro.com. 

Before blasting begins “Right of Entry” agreements will need to be signed between the property owner and the contractor. This will allow the contractor to gain access to individual properties to conduct pre-construction surveys of each property. After construction, if the property owner feels damage has occurred, Jordan and the project contractor will follow up with the property owner to conduct a post-construction survey. Therefore, if any damage occurs, an appropriate estimate will be determined and submitted to the responsible party for payment and/or implementation of the repairs.

Details of the blasting schedule and notifications to the public will be discussed in the project’s blasting plan. Once provided by the contractor, the blasting schedule and notification process will be posted to this page at least 3 weeks prior to blasting activities. If changes occur, email notifications will be sent to residents who subscribe to the project mailing list on the Notify Me page linked above.