Enhancing Regional Reliability, Environmental Stewardship, and Operational Resilience

The Central Kitsap Treatment Plant (CKTP) serves as a vital regional facility, providing wastewater treatment for the Central Kitsap service area, the city of Poulsbo, and Naval Base Kitsap installations at Keyport and Bangor. With a rated maximum monthly flow of 6 million gallons per day, CKTP discharges treated effluent to Port Orchard Bay under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, safeguarding water quality in Puget Sound.

A 2020 infrastructure assessment revealed critical vulnerabilities, including aging systems and a lack of redundancy, particularly in the plant’s anaerobic digestion process. The highest priority was addressing the two digesters, originally commissioned in 1977, which have deteriorated significantly, leading to methane and sludge leaks and posing risks to compliance and safety. The facility currently lacks backup capacity, limiting maintenance flexibility and increasing operational risk.

Additional concerns included:

• No redundancy for the septic and fats, oils, and grease receiving stations
• Aging gravity thickeners in poor condition
• Corroded components in the septage cyclone, classifier, and pump stations

Collaborative Planning for a Resilient Future

Through a series of workshops during preliminary design, the project team, working closely with Kitsap County, established a robust basis of design, identified funding strategies, navigated regulatory requirements, and evaluated delivery methods. The County selected the General Contractor/Construction Manager collaborative delivery approach to foster early collaboration, improve constructability, and enhance cost and schedule certainty.

Community and Environmental Benefits

The CKTP upgrades strengthen regional wastewater reliability, protect water quality in Puget Sound, and safeguard public health through improved treatment processes. Modernized infrastructure enhances operational efficiency and system resilience, ensuring long-term stability and reduced maintenance costs. The project also supports critical services for Naval Base Kitsap, promotes economic growth, and reflects the community’s commitment to environmental stewardship and public well-being.