SEATTLE — New technology is helping scientists solve the decades-old mystery of what's contaminating Seattle's Thornton Creek, causing a stink and a serious public health risk.
"It's very concerning, because we've got kids that play here, we've got families, it drains into Lake Washington," said King County Councilman Rod Dembowski, who chairs the county's Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee.
Dembowski discussed with KIRO 7 the results of an investigation that found human sewage being flushed directly into the water.
KIRO 7 interviewed Jonathan Frodge with Seattle Public Utilities two years ago, when he started warning people to stay out of the creek because they had identified human waste in the water and were concerned about bacteria levels.
Back then, they were trying to pinpoint the sources.
"If you don't know exactly where your problem is, you can't fix it," Frodge said.
But now, crews have had a breakthrough, both in finding some sources and in the technology they used to do it.
They found at least two big sources of the sewage: apartment complexes in Lake City.
"So in this case, we're talking about toilets flushing and sewage going into the creek?" KIRO 7 asked.
"Unfortunately, we are," Dembowski said.
Dembowski said tests showed the pipes were somehow crossed at the ClockTower Apartments.
That means for years, raw sewage was going into the complex's stormwater holding tank, then pumped straight into Little Brook Creek, which feeds into Thornton Creek, which flows all the way to Lake Washington.
"It carries pathogens," he said. "It can make people sick... so it's a serious public health problem."
There was a similar sewage leak down the block at the Hidden Creek Village apartments as well.
SPU said both appear to be honest mistakes and the city will waive fines because both complexes are fixing the problems.
"That's a whole other level of disgusting," new ClockTower resident Bethanne Stevens said. "I'm just happy they figured it out and are taking care of it, so that's good."
It's the first of what the city and county hope will be a string of discoveries using new technology and a new method.
One of them is at the King County Environmental Lab, where they're using a DNA testing technique better known from use in hospitals or for evidence from crime scene investigations.
In this case, it identifies bacteria that suggest human waste in the water.
"We're one of the few labs in the country that's doing this," Environmental Lab Supervisor Eric Thompson said.
The other tool is small, high-tech measuring gadgets called thermistors, which are immersed in the water.
"It'll take readings every minute, seven days a week," Frodge said.
The devices identify potential spikes of contamination through factors of heat and conductivity.
Together, SPU hopes they'll track down other sources of pollution.
"I think everybody wants the creek to be improved," Frodge said.
Councilman Dembowski said he's hoping the county can fund additional equipment and personnel for more work tracking down contamination sources, using money from an existing fund that's supported by a small charge already on people's sewer bills.
SPU said it would like to speed up its work on Thornton Creek and use the technology on other places with contamination, like Juanita Creek in Kirkland.
KIRO
