Inside the brains of the new Barton Street CSO, King County Community Relations person Doug Marsano explained to people touring the new facility how it works.
The Barton Street Combined Sewage Overflow pump station and Cove Park both just adjacent to the Fauntleroy Ferry Dock opened for a celebration and tours for the public on July 18. The station, which collects sewage and storm water runoff was showing its age at 50 years and had to be upgraded. King County began the process in 2012.
The project replaced outdated electrical equipment, pumps, and associated equipment. The new pumps will have increased capacity from 22 million gallons per day (mgd) to 33 mgd.
The new facility has upgraded heating, ventilation and air conditioning installed.
A new underground vault was built to house a new backup generator system capable of 12,500 watts and running for a full day without external power. Also installed a new odor control system.
The station takes raw sewage and storm water overflow and pumps it north to the next station still being built, called the Murray Basin CSO just across from Lowman Beach Park. From there it travels north Alki to another station then over toward and under the Duwamish River then north along Elliott Bay to West Point where it is treated.
Cove Park just outside the station was completely remade. At one time the park was a dumping ground for garbage but that's all been cleaned up and the park re-opened with all new art by bronze artist Thomas E. Jay.
