Rock Creek clarifiers, carbon pilot and pilots aim to cut costs and boost capacity, Clean Water Services says

At the Jan. 8 roundtable Clean Water Services interim GM Rick Stanley highlighted major capital investments and local pilots intended to improve compliance and deliver long‑term cost savings for ratepayers.

Stanley described the Rock Creek Primary Clarifiers as "about a $50,000,000 project" that upgrades preliminary primary treatment. He also described the agency's UFAT solids treatment expansion and investments in the lab to support new analytical methods, including eDNA for salmon tracking and microplastics analysis.

On innovation, Stanley outlined a Crew Carbon pilot at Rock Creek that supplies an alternative chemical with lower greenhouse gas intensity. "I think it would save us about half $1,000,000 a year," Stanley said, describing both cost savings and unexpected process improvements. He also described a hydrocyclone pilot that can increase treatment train capacity by an estimated 20–25 percent and help biological phosphorus removal without building large new trains.

The board heard an overview of other capital priorities, including the Forest Grove clarifiers (also described as a roughly $50,000,000 project), Durham digester and odor control work, a panel conveyance program described as about a $130,000,000 program over roughly 10 years, and ongoing work on renewable natural gas procurement.

Board members encouraged clearer public storytelling about avoided impacts and return on investment so partners and ratepayers understand the value of these investments.