Currently sewer M&O staff and equipment operate from the Chambers Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in University Place, nearly 20 miles from the center of the county's sewer collection system. Relocating sewer M&O staff to a more centrally-located facility will save time and fuel, making county maintenance operations more cost effective. It will also allow county crews to respond more quickly to emergency situations.
Traffic M&O staff and equipment are currently housed in aging, inefficient buildings that cannot support the modern needs and activities associated with the maintenance and operation of traffic equipment. Based on these needs, it has become necessary to seek new quarters for the traffic M&O staff.
The Sewer and Traffic Operations Facility will shift most of the sewer M&O staff and equipment currently located in University Place to the new facility. The timing of this shift coincides with the major expansion project being completed at the WWTP, allowing the number of new buildings needed at the WWTP site to be reduced, and some existing buildings to be cost-effectively reused. Construction of the Sewer and Traffic Operations Facility is scheduled to be complete by 2014 providing time for the sewer M&O staff to relocate prior to WWTP expansion construction overtaking their current workspace.
The Sewer and Traffic Operations Facility gives Pierce County the opportunity to effectively solve three operational issues with one project.