Green River Filtration Facility opens, bringing safer drinking water to communities in Pierce and King counties
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Green River Filtration Facility opens, bringing safer drinking water to communities in Pierce and King counties
A cleaner, safer water supply will now be flowing through the pipes to about one million people following the recent opening of the Green River Filtration Facility. State Rep. Linda Kochmar attended the facility's dedication May 4.
“The new filtration system ensures Tacoma, communities in the Thirtieth District and surrounding neighborhoods in King and Pierce counties will have access to safer drinking water for years to come,” said Kochmar, R-Federal Way. “With this new system, the Green River will no longer be one of the few unfiltered surface water suppliers in the U.S.. As I see it, the glass is more than half full.”
The filtration facility, located on the Green River in Enumclaw, was built in partnership with Tacoma Water, Lakehaven Utility District, Covington Water District and the City of Kent. Plans for the filtration system began nine years ago when the Washington State Department of Health adopted new EPA regulations. Among those is requiring water treatment for the waterborne disease, cryptosporidium.
In addition to protecting against cryptosporidium, the Green River Filtration Facility is designed to: reduce the amount of silt and sand in pipes, improve the clarity and taste of water, and minimize natural organic material in water.
Levels of cryptosporidium remain low in the Green River, according to Tacoma Public Utilities.
PHOTO CAPTION: Lakehaven Utility District representatives attend the Green River Filtration Facility ceremony May 4, (L-R): Stan French (water operations manager); Ron Nowicki (Board Vice President); Linda Kochmar (State Representative, 30th Legislative District); Steve Pritchett (legal counsel/legislative liaison); Don Miller (Board President); Tim McClain (Board Commissioner); and John Bowman (general manager). Photo courtesy of Stan French.
PHOTO CAPTION: Lisa Alexander (left), Lakehaven Utility District legal assistant and board clerk, and State Rep. Linda Kochmar (right), R-Federal Way, attend the opening ceremony for the Green River Filtration Facility. Photo courtesy of Stan French.
