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Drayton Harbor Projects

Municipal Sewer Sytems

Portions of the City of Blaine's municipal sewer system are more than 50 years old. The age of the system is one of the factors that make it a potential source of bacterial contamination for Drayton Harbor. Old lines with deteriorating connections and possible breaks can leak sewage into surrounding soils and waterways. The old system also allows for infiltration and inflow (I & I) of groundwater and stormwater, which add additional burdens on the system; the resulting increases in flow can result in overflows in the system- stormwater, groundwater and sewage overflow the pipes' capacity and contaminate the soils and water courses nearby. The City of Blaine also has an underwater force main that carries untreated sewage across the mouth of the harbor to their treatment plant; this is another potential source of pollution. Through programs like their I & I reduction and stormwater improvement program, the City of Blaine has done a lot to reduce the impacts their system has on the waters of Drayton Harbor. Through cooperative efforts and partnering, a number of projects have been completed to help improve and repair Blaine's municipal sewer system.

The City of Blaine

• City of Blaine Illicit Connections Project - In 1999, the City of Blaine conducted smoke and dye testing in some of the older portions of the wastewater collections system. Based on the results from these tests, 49 illicitly connected services were discovered. Only a handful of these illicit connections have not been fixed. The few remaining illicit connections will be corrected as the City adds yard drains to the properties to connect them to the storm sewer system.
• Replacement of the Underwater Sewer Line - In 1996, the City of Blaine replaced the 10" diameter fiberglass force main sewer pipe that crosses under the mouth of the harbor with a 14" diameter ductile iron, segmented pipe. The fiberglass pipe was replaced because it was failing and leaking.
• Overflow Storage - In the spring of 2000, the City of Blaine installed 4- 50,000 inflatable storage bladders at Lift Station #1 on Marine Drive to provide additional storage for sewage during storm events/ overflow situations. The bladders were used for the first time in December 2001; without the bladders, untreated sewage would have been released into the marine waters in and around Drayton Harbor.
• Inspection and Repair of the Sewer Line along Marine Drive - This was a big accomplishment for the City of Blaine in 2000/2001. This project was funded and supported by WRIA1 Early Action Funding, Department of Ecology, Semiahmoo First Nation, City of Blaine Public Works, Puget Sound Restoration Fund and the Drayton Harbor Shellfish Committee. Repairs were made to 8 manholes, 8 joints, 1 lateral plug and 5 pipe breaks as a result of the video inspection done in 2000 on the Marine Drive sewer line. This has been a great project that exemplifies teamwork and the importance of follow-up and follow-through in affecting change.
  • Marine Drive Sewer Repairs Report- 2001
• Pressure testing of the Blaine sewer force main - In May of 2001, the City of Blaine pressure tested their underwater 14" force main, which carries untreated sewage across the harbor to their treatment facility. The 2700 feet of line, which is constructed of ductile iron and has 150 joints, was pressure tested at 100psi. The main passed the test. The City has continued to conduct a pressure test on their underwater force main on an annual basis. It passed the pressure test in 2002 and again in 2003. This annual pressure test has now been incorporated as a requirement in the City’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit.
• National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Review/Renewal- In 2002, the City of Blaine’s NPDES permit came up for review and renewal. Several citizens and groups commented on the permit. As a result of the various comments, the Department of Ecology, which has oversight of NPDES permits, made a few modifications to the permit. The annual pressure test that the City is already performing on its underwater sewer main was incorporated into the permit as a requirement now. The City will also have to meet stricter requirements for their TSS (total suspended solids) and BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) monitoring.
• Marine Drive Dye Test - Conducted in 2003, this dye study was used to determine whether sewage, possibly leaking from main lines and manholes, was partly responsible for fecal coliform contamination in the commercial portion of Blaine Harbor. Based on test results, it does not appear that the main sanitary sewer system is contributing to the high fecal coliform levels observed in Blaine Harbor.

Photos: City of Blaine

On-site Septic Systems
Municipal Sewer Systems
Agricultural Practices
Boats/Marinas
Stormwater Runoff
Wildlife/Non-human Contributions
Other Sources
Education and Community Involvement
Data Management/Water Quality Monitoring
Reports