Work On Sewer Line Begins; Pump Sites Face Objections

Construction on a major sewer interceptor for the unincorporated area north of the city has begun even though questions about the location of two pump stations persist.

The North Spokane Sewer Interceptor will reach five miles toward Gleneden from the end of the current pipe system at Waikiki.

The pipe will head north along Division past Wandermere and then onto Hatch and Midway roads and end at Piper Glen Court.

The $9 million project initially will serve about 10,000 customers, with others able to connect as developers gain approvals for new subdivisions.

The first phase of sewer construction began last week with crews from Eller Construction digging between Waikiki and Hastings.

Along with building the sewer line, the county is planning two new pump stations that will send wastewater from lower elevations back into the main system.

Public hearings are set before county commissioners on environmental and design aspects of those projects.

The first is behind Whitworth College near the lagoons at Whitehouse and Elcliff. Three property owners, Thomas Sutherland, Donald Cagle and Tom Rohrback, have complained to the county about possible noise and odor from the sewer pumps.

They have retained attorney Bob Kingsley to take their concerns to the county. A hearing on the environmental review process is set for Tuesday.

Kingsley maintains there are better locations for the pumps in areas that would not affect homeowners.

Dean Fowler, a sewer engineer for the county, said the county is spending a lot of money to give the pump stations a residential look. The concrete buildings will have pitched roofs, siding and landscaping.

Noise and odor problems have been eliminated with new technology.

“We’re not out there making money,” said Fowler. “We’re putting in sewers that people are requesting.”

The second pump station would be beside Dartford Road near the new U.S. Highway 395 bridge. Residents who own property near the site have maintained that the county needs a shoreline development permit to build the pump station so close to the Little Spokane River.

A hearing on that permit is set for June 7 before county commissioners.

In other sewer developments, the county is planning to connect the Town and Country neighborhood to the sewer system this summer.

The 400 homes along the Monroe and Wall corridor to the edge of the Holy Cross Cemetery will be connected in phases from June 1 until September.