Spokane County Sun Acres Lift Station

Sun Acres connects to county sewer via new lift station designed and managed by Varela

Vera Water & Power owned and operated a LOSS system for the Sun Acres community located in Spokane Valley off Highway 27. The system was failing, creating unsanitary conditions. Both Vera and the residents desired to connect the system to Spokane County sewer.

Varela assisted Vera Water & Power and Spokane County in evaluating options for connecting the system via a lift station designed to serve the Sun Acres community and Spokane County’s future sewer basin surrounding Sun Acres.

The project included coordination with Spokane County Sewer Department, Vera Water & Power, and local residents, including public meetings and input; as well as acquiring Department Ecology input and grant/loan funding for the project.

The project included installation of a new 3,000LF new force main located in County ROW to connect the new lift station to County sewer. The Spokane County Road Department partnered with Vera Water & Power and County sewer to allow for construction of needed road improvements in the areas, including utilizing cement treated base (CTB) construction techniques. 

Varela helped the County configure a new lift station utilizing a custom layout, including concrete wet well, CMU building for a backup generator, Bioxide chemical injection equipment storage, and electrical/controls equipment. The same layout has been used by Varela for several other County lift stations.

Project elements include:

• Evaluation of options for decommissioning the Sun Acres LOSS system and options for connecting to Spokane County sewer
• Funding acquisition: Ecology grant/loan, Spokane County Sewer funds, Spokane County Road funds, Vera funds
• Construction of a new lift station including:
  • 8’ diameter concrete precast wet well
  • CMU building for backup generator, bioxide chemical injection system, electrical controls
  • 3,000 linear foot force main
  • Full-width road improvements including cement treated base (CTB) and asphalt paving
  • Landscaping and site improvements  
  • Permitting
•  The project included partnering with: Vera Water & Power, Spokane County Sewer Department, Spokane County Road Department, Department of Ecology, and Sun Acres residents

In addition to the Sun Acres Lift Station, Varela has designed several other lift stations for Spokane County.

Varela’s lift station designs for Spokane County include:

• Broadway Avenue lift station
• Orchard Avenue lift Station
• Barker Road lift station
• Sun Acres lift Station
• Sprague Avenue lift Station