By Tim Robinson

It took close to 50 years but board members of the Southwest Suburban Sewer District have moved out of crowded spaces and are beginning to enjoy the new headquarters of their offices just off 180th St, near the 509 freeway and the Occupational Skills Center.

A semi-private opening ceremony was held recently. A sort of dry run for the main event to take place later this summer when the district will invite the public to tour the main offices, machine shop and warehouse.

Board members met in the conference room to announce completion of the project. The previous offices were not up to ADA code and had weathered poorly in the last several years. As the population grew the responsibility to maintain a smooth operation was more difficult. Insufficient equipment, including a lack of storage forced the district to use cargo containers for nearly 20 years. Simply put, it was time.

The history of the district dates back to the late 50's. At inception the offices were located in downtown Burien just south of the Ambaum curve and down towards the Highline School District offices. During that nearly 60 years the district kept sewer costs low, ranking number two in cost savings to customers in King County.

What does this mean for customers? While customers were working their own jobs, the district was re-piping Burien with more than 64,000 feet of new sewer lines. Rebuilding a new pump station at Miller Creek; replacing a pump station at Seahurst Beach Park including 5000 feet of sewer line and controlling odors emanating from the Miller Creek plant (yes it can stink). In addition they added approximately 100 new connections in Normandy Park where septic systems had failed. The remedies worked.

All these improvements were completed in the last decade at a cost of close to forty million dollars including the new administration building and facilities.