The Anacortes Water Treatment Plant has been supplying its customers with safe and superior quality drinking water for over 91 years. In 2013, Anacortes completed a new, state-of-the-art water treatment plant to meet increased demand.
While conducting a demolition assessment of the old Anacortes Water Treatment Plant, samples of building materials and soil found PCBs— all common compounds for 1970s era buildings. The levels exceed applicable regulatory standards but do not pose a threat to drinking water.
Public Works officials immediately reviewed all water sample records and determined there was no threat to public health and the water was safe. A further human health risk assessment by independent experts confirmed the water was safe and no adverse health effects are likely to have occurred to customers, workers, or water plant visitors as a result of PCBs at the former plant.
The City of Anacortes, with oversight from the Washington State Department of Ecology, has completed two reports: the Remedial Investigation (RI) and Feasibility Study (FS). These reports describe the nature and extent of the contamination found at the site, evaluate cleanup alternatives, and identify a preferred cleanup alternative. Based on the information presented in the RI/FS, Ecology has approved a Draft Cleanup Action Plan (DCAP) that describes the proposed cleanup action for the Site and sets forth the requirements that the cleanup must meeting. The DCAP and associated Consent Decree, which requires the City to implement the cleanup action, will be available for public review and comment between May 24, 2021 and June 22, 2021.
We are committed to the safe demolition of the old water treatment plant. The DCAP proposes a cleanup action that addresses Site contamination in the most protective and permanent manner to ensure the safety of our drinking water and to protect public health and the environment.
The Department of Ecology supports this cleanup action and will hold an online-only public meeting on June 7, 2021 to provide an overview of the DCAP and answer questions from the public.