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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 8, 1996
96-138
CONTACT:
Ron Langley, Ecology Public Information, (206) 649-7009
Ecology Grant To Bremerton Helps Sinclair Inlet
BREMERTON, WA -- The City of Bremerton is discharging significantly less chlorine into Sinclair Inlet thanks to new dechlorination equipment at its wastewater treatment facility. Half of the cost of the new equipment was paid with a $118,250 grant from the state Department of Ecology, the remainder by Bremerton ratepayers.
"This grant is part of Ecology's commitment to help Bremerton residents take care of their part of Puget Sound," said Mike Rundlett, manager of Ecology's Northwest Regional Office in Bellevue.
Rundlett said the Bremerton treatment plant uses chlorine to kill harmful bacteria found in treated wastewater. The new dechlorination system, which has been operating for about one year, has reduced output of chlorine from the treatment plant by approximately 98 percent, helping Bremerton meet tough new water quality standards that protect aquatic life. Underwater marine creatures are far more sensitive to chlorine than are humans and other mammals.
The grant for this project is part of nearly $35 million in grants from the state Centennial Clean Water Fund distributed by Ecology during fiscal year 1997 (July 1, 1996 - June 30, 1997). Such grants to local governments are in high demand -- $75 million worth of projects were requested for the same period.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
