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Unified Sewer Plan Update
The Unified Sewer Plan will reflect Pierce County’s ongoing commitments to a healthy Puget Sound and strategic goals of supporting vibrant communities, effective government, and an entrepreneurial climate.
Pierce County Planning & Public Works is currently updating the Unified Sewer Plan (USP), which is an all-encompassing plan that aligns with the Pierce County Comprehensive Plan and will guide the County’s sewer utility for the next 20 years. The plan describes the sewer service area, existing collection and treatment system and outlines policies, goals, and plans that will guide future expansion and improvements.
The USP also addresses elements required by the Washington State Department of Ecology, including the General Sewerage Plan, the Puget Sound Nutrient General Permit, expansion of sustainability, and the resource recovery efforts of biosolids, biogas, and reclaimed water.
Unified Sewer Plan
General Sewerage Plan
- Requires appointment of Review Committee and Hearings Board adoption
- Planning Commission and Department of Ecology approval
- Engineering reports developed based on this plan
- Goals, policies and objectives
- Require by WACs and RCWs
- History and overview
Recoverable Resources Management Plan
Biological Nutrient Removal, Biosolids, Biogas & Reclaimed Water
- Treatment requirements for utilization of wastewater treatment process byproducts
- Mitigates and minimizes future regulatory risks
- Align with community and organizational goals
- Long-range operating strategy
Pierce County’s wastewater utility staff engages with ratepayers, elected officials, tribal partners, stakeholders, and regulators to understand their expectations and develop strategies for how best to balance those expectations while maintaining affordable rates.
Our business case evaluations include considerations of the environment and social awareness to the standard cost/benefit/risk analysis, and address sustainability, sewer capacity, recovery, and wastewater treatment byproducts (such as reclaimed water, biosolids, biogas and nutrient reduction).
- Support growth and economic development in Pierce County.
- Meet customer expectations of balancing investment value with the health of Puget Sound.
- Facilitate ongoing compliance with current and future regulatory requirements.
- Address regulatory changes that have been made since the 2010 USP and will explore improvements to existing sewerage treatment, conveyance processes and recoverable resources.
- Continue to provide customers with high-quality sanitary sewer services at reasonable rates.
Policy topics for future consideration include:
• How we finance future growth
• Anticipated changes to regulations
• Sustainability and environmental stewardship
• Opportunities for partnerships/regionalization of services such as Biosolids Management
• Evaluation of other services, such as water and energy
Washington State Department of Ecology and the Pierce County Council have approval oversight of the final plan. See below for more detail about the timing and goals for each phase.
(Note: Timelines have shifted due to the pandemic response needs, prioritized policy work, and to ensure coordination with broader Pierce County’s Comprehensive Plan timing.)
The prework and contracting took place in 2019-2020.
Phase 1: Establish Baseline and Boundary Conditions (2020-2023)
Develop guiding criteria for the USP, based on long-term needs of the County. They include:
- Identify stakeholder expectations.
- Develop external drivers’ summary (forecasted regulatory requirements and flows/loading based on population/employment data).
- Define existing financial/organizational capacity.
Phase 2: Develop and Assess Program Options (2023 – 2024)
Identify policy and program options and develop preferred alternatives, including:
- Conduct public poll to inform USP direction.
- Business case evaluations.
Phase 3: Develop Implementation Framework (2025)
- Document selected projects, prioritization, and finance strategy.
- Synthesis of the planning document.
- Stakeholder engagement.
- Establish Review Board.
Adoption (2025)
Following the adoption of the Pierce County Comprehensive Plan, the USP will go through the following process for formal adoption.
In adherence with guidelines outlined in RCW 36.94.50, the lead agency will assemble a Basin Review Committee and hold a public meeting. The participating cities for the public meeting will be determined by its population.
Following the public meeting, a final draft of the USP will be presented to the Pierce County Planning Commission, and the County Ordinance and resolution will be presented to the Pierce County Council.
Contingent on Pierce County Council approval, the USP will be submitted to the Department of Ecology.