City Retrofits Stormwater Vaults to Reduce Lake Pollution

Legacy automated check: the original source text was not preserved. These earlier verdicts have not passed the current publication checks and may contain errors. Source: original document ↗

• ✓
  Bellingham began retrofitting four stormwater treatment vaults on Monday“Construction began on Monday to retrofit four stormwater treatment vaults, switching filter cartridges for an advanced sand material, which doubles phosphorus removal capacity.”
• ✓
  Bellingham is replacing old filter cartridges with advanced sand material“Construction began on Monday to retrofit four stormwater treatment vaults, switching filter cartridges for an advanced sand material, which doubles phosphorus removal capacity.”
• ✓
  The retrofitting aims to double phosphorus removal capacity“Construction began on Monday to retrofit four stormwater treatment vaults, switching filter cartridges for an advanced sand material, which doubles phosphorus removal capacity.”
• ✓
  The project aims to reduce phosphorus loads in Lake Whatcom“Phosphorus in stormwater is a major pollutant in Lake Whatcom, the city’s freshwater reservoir, feeding algae that eventually sinks. At the bottom of the lake, bacteria break down the plant matter. Similar to humans, bacteria require oxygen to survive. As the bacteria population booms with a sufficient food source, the bacteria consume more oxygen, depleting dissolved oxygen levels needed to sustain fish and other aquatic life. Low oxygen levels have left the body of water impaired since 1998. By reducing phosphorus loads into the lake, the dissolved oxygen levels can recover, improving water quality.”
• ✓
  Lake Whatcom has been impaired since 1998“Low oxygen levels have left the body of water impaired since 1998.”
• ✓
  Lake Whatcom has low oxygen levels caused by algae blooms“Low oxygen levels have left the body of water impaired since 1998.”
• ✓
  Algae blooms in Lake Whatcom are fed by phosphorus“Phosphorus in stormwater is a major pollutant in Lake Whatcom, the city’s freshwater reservoir, feeding algae that eventually sinks.”
• ⚠
  Eli Mackiewicz is from the city's public works departmentNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
• ✓
  The vaults were built between 2004 and 2006“These vaults that we’re retrofitting now were built between 2004 and 2006 using the best available treatment at the time,”
• ✓
  The vaults used outdated technology“These vaults that we’re retrofitting now were built between 2004 and 2006 using the best available treatment at the time,”
• ⚠
  The vaults required frequent maintenanceNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
• ✓
  The new system will increase filtration efficiency“A new retrofit project will change that, exchanging the old system for new technology that will increase the filtration system’s service life, thus reducing required maintenance and improving its efficiency in removing phosphorus.”
• ✓
  The new system will reduce required maintenance“A new retrofit project will change that, exchanging the old system for new technology that will increase the filtration system’s service life, thus reducing required maintenance and improving its efficiency in removing phosphorus.”
• ⚠
  Construction is ongoing at the Academy Street VaultNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
• ⚠
  Construction is ongoing at other locations near homes and docks on Lake WhatcomNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.