|
Coming soon to the city near you . . .
cleaner river water!
Your City of Redmond stormwater utility is embarking on a
large-scale effort to greatly improve the quality of the water
flowing from city streets into the Sammamish River. Over the
next few years, the underground infrastructure that carries and
cleans stormwater runoff in downtown Redmond will see a major
overhaul, with the first project being built this summer.
Urban Stormwater Runoff
Before development Redmond was covered with trees, grasses
and wetlands that absorbed water when it rained. As our City
grows and new areas are covered with streets, parking lots, and
buildings, managing the rain flowing off of these surfaces
becomes more challenging. Underground pipes designed to collect
and convey this rain runoff (stormwater) to the river will help
protect our homes and businesses from flooding. Before the water
gets to the pipes, it rinses pollutants from our streets and
parking lots and carries them into our fish-bearing streams
where they can be harmful to the environment and wildlife.
Changing Requirements
To provide better protection for the environment and comply with
federal and state laws, the City recently adopted a permit for
discharge of stormwater into the river. Conditions of this
permit require the City to enhance efforts to clean the
stormwater before it gets to the river. These requirements have
become more challenging with each passing year. Also, the cost
of constructing and maintaining these facilities is rising
rapidly. As such, the City is taking forward-thinking steps to
build facilities that will treat this stormwater for years to
come.
Regional Facilities (Downtown)
The City Council recently approved a plan that will transform
the stormwater infrastructure in just five years. This
transformation may help to spur redevelopment in our downtown
core by addressing the stormwater impacts associated with that
development up front. Developers will contribute to the cost of
these facilities, and working together will make larger
improvements to water quality than they could alone. In the
relatively short span of five years,
six new
projects will be constructed:
- 2007. McRedmond Water Quality Facility (WQF). This
underground facility will be located in the parking lot of Luke
McRedmond Landing Park.
- 2008. Leary Stormwater Treatment Wetland (STW). This
project will use natural vegetation processes to remove pollutants
from stormwater.
- 2009. Safeway (WQF). This underground facility will be
located near the Safeway store near Bear Creek.
- 2009. 85th Street (WQF). This underground facility built on
the City campus will treat water from the north downtown area.
- 2010. Redmond Way (STW). This treatment wetland near
Redmond Way will provide treatment for all the flows collected by the
Redmond Way Storm Trunk.
- 2011. The Redmond Way Storm Trunk will carry stormwater to
treatment and then the river so expensive ponds and vaults need not be
built in downtown.
Regional Facilities (Citywide)
The City prepared a Citywide
Regional Stormwater
Facilities Plan that provides information about how the City
is meeting regulatory needs and working to improve stormwater
across the City. A
Regional Stormwater Facilities Map has been prepared to show
locations of the currently proposed regional facilities
citywide. The Washington State Department of Ecology has
reviewed the City’s plan, and has issued the following
WA
State Department of Ecology’s Letter of Support.
Financing for stormwater capital improvement projects like these
regional facilities is provided through monthly stormwater fees
paid by all residents and businesses, and also by capital
facilities charges paid by developers. The City’s Stormwater
Capital Improvement Program is described on the website at
www.redmond.gov/insidecityhall/publicworks/stormwater/cipstormwater.asp.
|
