Looking down at the engines that turn the raw sewage pumps at West Point Treatment Plant.
Painted in retro teal and fire-engine-red, West Point Treatment Plant’s raw sewage pumps do the heavy work of moving up to 440 million gallons of wastewater and stormwater throughout the facility every day. These pumps perform such a critical and central function — and have done so faithfully around the clock for nearly 800,000 people in Seattle — that our staff describe them as the heartbeat of the system.
Lance Williams, senior operator in charge, inside the Raw Sewage Pump Building at West Point Treatment Plant in Seattle.
“These pumps are workhorses and have been well maintained over the last 60 years,” said Lance Williams, a senior operator in charge at West Point Treatment Plant. “Without these pumps, we can’t treat the wastewater.”
Installed in 1966 when the plant was originally constructed, it’s now time for an upgrade. Crews began work last fall on a major project to make the pump building seismically sound and to replace the four biogas-powered pumps with modern electric versions.
One of the main challenges is keeping operations running continuously while construction progresses.
“We have to keep wastewater treatment running no matter what,” said Williams. “Construction doesn’t stop operations.”
These engines are required to operate during construction. At times, elements will be locked out, so it is safe to work around them.
Which is why the pumps will be replaced one at a time — at a pace of one per year through 2029. This year, contractors are doing the initial work, removing exterior paneling, rerouting gas pipes, relocating electrical and instrumentation equipment, and reinforcing and widening the original concrete pillars to support the additional weight of the new gantry crane and roof.
Contractors have also prepped the tunnel infrastructure to withstand the heavy construction equipment and the massive mobile crane that will be stationed above to install the new 30-ton pumps.
“It can be challenging at times but also a great learning experience, where we’re all leaning on each other’s expertise and knowledge to problem-solve,” Williams said. “We’re excited to be modernizing the half-a-century-old pumps with a new electric motor system.”
While the existing pumps have certainly done their job, the new ones will run more efficiently. With only three pumps needed to operate at full performance, it’ll leave the fourth one available as a backup during maintenance.
This project is one of dozens of critical infrastructure upgrades underway at West Point Treatment Plant and across King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s service area. These efforts aim to modernize the system so that it’s resilient to climate impacts, natural hazards, and a growing population.
An electrician runs new wire for the Raw Sewage Pump Building.