HomeMy WebLinkAbout111225 - Press Release_ Jefferson County and Partnering Agencies celebrated the “Grand Flushing” of the Port Hadlock Urban Growth Area Sewer SystemGood morning,
Last Thursday, November 6, 2025, after a two and half years of construction, Jefferson County hosted the Grand Flushing Event, inviting state Legislators, funding agencies, community
members and partners, contractors and designers who were involved in the project to commemorate the full activation of the Port Hadlock Urban Growth Area (PHUGA) Sewer System. This
celebration is the result of over 20 years of planning, designing, collaborating, and securing $35.6 million in funding to ensure that Port Hadlock will thrive for generations by supporting
increased regional economic development in the area.
Key community leaders involved in the process contributed with speaking of their struggles and triumphs, including Heidi Eisenhour, current Chair of the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners;
Representative Steve Tharinger, Washington State Legislature; Monte Reinders, Jefferson County Public Works Director and Jefferson County Engineer; Kate Dean, former District 1 Jefferson
County Commissioner; Chad Smith, General Manager of Seton Construction; Kevin Dour, retired Northwest Operations Manager at Tetra Tech; Jamie Maciejewski, Executive Director of Habitat
for Humanity of East Jefferson County; Bob Wheeler, retired Project Manager for the PHUGA Sewer System; and Sam Harper, Wastewater Project Manager for Jefferson County.
Concluding the celebration, attendees were invited to take a self-guided and or guided tour of the new Port Hadlock Urban Growth Area (PHUGA) Water Reclamation Facility located on Lopeman
Road, witnessing the advanced technology, a membrane bioreactor (MBR) built by Ovivo USA, that provides Class A effluent which meets stringent water quality standards.
This celebration symbolized a turning point for the Port Hadlock community. It will allow residents and businesses to decommission outdated septic systems and create opportunities for
sustainable growth and development in the area. With the sewer services officially active since September 8, 2025, parcels within 200 feet of the collection lines are now within the
Urban Growth Areas (UGA) zoning. This zoning update encourages both residential and commercial development in the area, unlocking new potential for affordable housing, small businesses,
and community infrastructure.
Commissioner Eisenhour, a resident of Port Hadlock, reflected on the moment, saying “this milestone is years in the making. I am so proud of the collaboration and people that made this
project possible. This is a huge win for Port Hadlock and the generations to come.”
This project was made possible with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, Representative Tharinger and Legislative Appropriation, Senator Murray Appropriation, Representative Kilmer,
Senator Cantwell, and a Department of Ecology Grant.
For additional information on the Port Hadlock Wastewater Treatment System, visit https://co.jefferson.wa.us/1158/Port-Hadlock-Wastewater-System. To view a map of parcels within 200
feet of sewer collection lines, visit https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/ImageRepository/Document?documentID=22871.
To see this press release on our website, visit: News Flash • Jefferson County and Partnering Agencies celebr <https://co.jefferson.wa.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1646>
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Thank you,
Liz Anderson
Communications Specialist
Jefferson County
360-774-0554 (direct line)
Ext. 183 for internal use
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