Flat Car Sewer Lift Station Reverse Flow Project

Project Summary (Project No. C2113)

The Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District was originally formed in 1968 to replace individual septic systems in the Geneva community with a comprehensive sewage collection and conveyance system due to degradation of Lake Whatcom water quality from septic systems. Since then, the District’s sewer system has expanded to serve Sudden Valley, as well as much of the development on the north shore of Lake Whatcom outside of Bellingham city limits. The District’s sewage collection and conveyance system serves approximately 4,150 connections and is comprised of approximately 75 miles of sewer main and 26 lift stations that pump sewage generated in the District out the Lake Whatcom Watershed for treatment at the City of Bellingham’s Post Point wastewater treatment plant located in Fairhaven.

Sewage is conveyed out of Sudden Valley by two sewer pipelines; one located along Lake Whatcom Boulevard and the second following the Lake Louise Road alignment. To build system resiliency in the event the Lake Louise Road sewer pipeline is rendered unusable, the District is constructing improvements that allow for rapid shifting of sewage flows at its Flat Car sewer lift station to the Lake Whatcom Boulevard pipeline.

Schedule

Task 1: Design and Permitting – Completed January 2025

In 2023, the District executed a professional services agreement with Wilson Engineering to assist with the design and permitting of the anticipated improvements. Design and permitting activities are complete.

Task 2: Construction – Anticipated Completion June 2025

To minimize construction costs and take advantage of in-house expertise, the improvement project has been divided into two components: 1) the portion of the project located outside of the alignment of Beaver Creek will be completed by District operations staff; and 2) the portion within Beaver Creek alignment will be completed by a contractor. This portion of the project was advertised for bid in accordance with Washington State public works contracting requirements in January 2025. Henifin Construction was determined to be the lowest responsive, responsible bidder and awarded the contract. The District and Henifin Construction are waiting for the Lake Whatcom Watershed land disturbance period to open on June 1, 2025, to initiate construction.

Project Cost

Task 1: Design and Permitting – $120,000

Task 2: Construction – $155,000

Project Contact

Greg Nicoll, P.E.
District Engineer
360.734.9224
greg.nicoll@lwwsd.org

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