Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) plans to replace four open reservoirs, including one in the Maple Leaf neighborhood, with buried ones in an effort to improve the quality and security of water while increasing open space by more than 75 acres. "Being underground allows protection to the water quality," said project manager Stephanie Murphy. "We will be replacing the existing reservoirs and putting back a new, same-sized, same-location, but reinforced-concrete structure," she said. Open reservoirs are highly susceptible to the growth of algae and contamination, resulting in health risks and poor tasting water, she explained. It has also become increasingly important to address security concerns, especially since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Burying the reservoirs is one of the most effective ways to protect the water system, she said.After completing replacement work at the Magnolia reservoir in 1995 and the Lincoln reservoir in 2004, SPU will replace four additional reservoir by 2012. They include the Beacon, Myrtle, West Seattle and Maple Leaf reservoirs. NEW PARK SPACESThe Beacon Reservoir, located on Beacon Hill, and West Seattle's Myrtle Reservoir are scheduled to be covered by the end of this year. The West Seattle reservoir, located in the southeast part of West Seattle, and the Maple Leaf reservoir (the largest of all reservoirs, with 60 million gallons) are scheduled for completion by 2010 and 2012, respectively. The Roosevelt reservoir, scheduled for decommission after the completion of the other four reservoirs, will add 14.5 acres of park space, according to a City of Seattle press release.The Bitter Lake and Lake Forest Park reservoirs have floating covers for protection, which will continue to remain in place.Seattle Public Utilities estimates a cost of $142 million to bury the four reservoirs, according to the City of Seattle website. This includes the cost of plants and grass to cover the open space to allow for immediate use of the area. While increasing open space, Seattle Parks and Recreation is working on ways to develop the sites into parks and recreational facilities for the local neighborhoods. Community involvement in the design and building of these new parks and facilities is essential, said Malia Langworthy, a communications strategic advisor for the parks department. "Whenever we get a new acquisition, we generally have a number of public meetings where we get input from the community about what they'd like to see such as a playground or an athletic field," she said."The [parks department] will ultimately be the ones to work with the public about what improvements are on the surface," said Murphy, the project manager.Once the space is covered, the parks department is responsible for funding and developing the new open area into a park, Langworthy said, though money from the parks department's budget has not yet been designated for the Maple Leaf and West Seattle reservoirs for when they are covered. However, she added, the proposed Parks Levy (which will be on the November 2008 ballot) does allocate funding to develop parks at both locations.ONE DOWNThe 50-million-gallon Beacon Hill reservoir covering project is nearing its end. Jefferson Park will be reconfigured to include sports fields, two new tennis courts and community gardens after the one-year, $8 million project.For more information, visit www.seattle.gov/util/About_SPU/Water_System/Projects/Reservoir_Covering_Program/index.asp.[[In-content Ad]]
