Sept 10, 2008
Smooth sailing for Brightwater outfall pipelines
Brightwater’s second, mile-long outfall pipeline took a tugboat ride into the sunset yesterday evening after leaving Port of Everett on Tuesday afternoon.
The second pipeline, currently staged north of Edmonds, is expected to be towed to Point Wells later today and connected and submerged tomorrow. Work will continue around the clock at Point Wells until the installation of both outfall pipes is complete.
The first pipeline arrived at Point Wells early Tuesday, successfully completing the 17-nautical-mile journey from its lower Snohomish River construction site to Point Wells on Puget Sound.
Workers attached the first pipe to an on-shore connector and just completed the controlled submergence that lowered the pipe 600 feet to the bottom of the Sound.
As the pipeline submerged, it began settling into its supporting role to discharge highly treated wastewater from the state-of-the-art Brightwater treatment plant when it comes online in 2011.
The second pipeline is currently staged north of Edmonds and is scheduled to reach the Point Wells outfall site late tonight..
Boaters in Puget Sound waters should continue to expect short-term impacts to marine traffic through Wednesday. Escort boats will ensure boaters keep a safe distance from the pipeline during the tow and controlled submergence.
King County selected the Brightwater outfall location after years of environmental review that included detailed study of Puget Sound oceanography and marine biology as well as an extensive permitting process involving state and federal agencies.
