Today, indoor plumbing is one of life’s necessities.

People flush the toilet and don’t think about it further, said Willy LaRue, Public Works director for the Town of Coupeville.

“It’s out of sight, out of mind.”

But discussions about the town’s sewer system are at the forefront of town news as the town council considers a rate hike later this year.

After someone flushes, the process in which the town disposes of the waste involves an intricate system with careful monitoring.

Within the Town of Coupeville, there are 10 miles of carefully placed sewer lines.

These lines create a system, which primarily functions on the use of gravity with four lift stations strategically placed around town.

Residents and businesses that are located on the south end of town drain waste to a South Main lift station, which collects the wastewater and then pumps it over the “ridge” until gravity again takes affect and pulls it to the town’s wastewater treatment plant located off Ninth Street by the boat launch.

Depending on the time of day and how much the system is being used, wastewater could take as little as 10 minutes to get to the plant, LaRue said.

Strange finds

Once wastewater reaches the treatment plant, it begins a process that can take anywhere from a few days to a month to complete.

Wastewater enters the headworks that screens out as much inorganic material as possible.

LaRue said he finds all kind of things that should never be put down a drain. From plastic, goldfish and those so-called “flushable” wipes to a little more eyebrow-raising materials like a pair of overalls and a bedsheet.

All of these things can cause problems for the system, even things considered “flushable.”

“These so-called flushable wipes, they’ll flush … and that’s it,” LaRue said.

The wipes don’t break down and can clog the system and tangle in the headworks and cause problems.

Beginning the process

Once through the headworks, the wastewater then goes through splitter boxes. In this process the wastewater is referred to as “return activated sludge” or “RAS” and is mixed with an influent, which consists of microscopic bacteria, to become “mixed liquor.”

It then moves into a basin where the bacteria begins the process of breaking down the organic material. This process can take anywhere from two to 28 days, LaRue said.

State law requires the town to remove 85 percent of organics from the material. Wastewater is continually being introduced to the system; the amount of stuff in the water determines how long the process takes.

“Basically, we’re detectives figuring out what’s coming at us,” LaRue said. “Every day, from one minute to the next, that stream is totally different. You never know what’s going to be there — it’s like a box of chocolates.”

Catch and release

From the basin, the mixed “liquor” goes into a clarifier where the solids settle to the bottom. The bacteria in the system has a life cycle and naturally separate with the youngest on the top, middle-aged in the middle and the oldest at the bottom.

The solids are pumped out along with the older bacteria and put into another tank where they are processed further. A polymer is also introduced to the material. Any additional liquid is pumped back into the system for further processing. Eventually, remaining solids that aren’t broken down are pumped and taken by the county for biosolids disposal, which is later turned into fertilizer and used in some fields on the island.

Once the remaining wastewater is clean enough to meet state requirements, it is pumped 1,450 feet out into Penn Cove and released.

Keeping it going

The town’s public works department consists of six employees — three handle maintenance and three handle the water and sewer systems.

“We’re the ones here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” LaRue said. “We’re here on holidays.”

Between the water and sewer systems, daily tests are required to look at things like bacteria, nitrates, chloride and oxygen levels. Each test has different requirements, different sites, bottles and methods.

While residents may not see the intricate process their waste must go through, every flush and rinse of the sink has an effect and must be closely monitored.

“The more we can take everything out of the system, the better it is for everyone — foods, fats, oils, greases,” LaRue said. “Those things don’t belong there.”

LaRue and his staff work closely with restaurants in town, doing regular site testing of what’s being dumped down the drain.

“We’ll do a sample, if it’s a high count, we’ll go back and do a second and even a third sample,” LaRue said.

Samples are also sent to an outside lab for comparison and staff work on educating the business.

“We do that for equality,” LaRue said. “I’d much rather work with people than get them upset with us.”

Saving costs

Residents can help aid in the vitality of the system by paying attention to what they’re putting down the drain. With everyone helping out, they can also ultimately help save a dent in their wallets.

“One thing people don’t think about is pharmaceuticals,” LaRue said. “People are always talking about drug interactions. Well, if one person is flushing a little here and another person is flushing a little bit there, it adds up.”

Things like dry-cleaning chemicals, paints, varnishes and other chemicals can be detrimental to the system, killing off all the good bacteria. Small amounts of cleaning agents and chemicals used in homes are OK, LaRue said. “Dilution is the solution.”

By the time small amount of cleaning products reach the plant, they’re usually diluted to a safe amount. It’s the large quantities they’re concerned about.

“We’ve had some strange things show up down here,” LaRue said. “We’re always paying attention to large trucks in the area.”

In fact, at one time LaRue said he caught two different companies attempting to dump large quantities of chemicals into the town’s now-closed RV dump site.

Funding the system

Understanding how the town’s sewer system works is important in understanding the costs associated with running it. State law requires that a municipality’s utility rates cover the cost of their utilities.

Coupeville’s sewer utility rates haven’t been increased in 14 years. Town council is currently reviewing proposed rate increases to sewer and stormwater utilities.

The current proposed increases would cost the average residential customer an additional $42 on their bi-monthly bill, but council has suggested some changes that may increase the rates proposed.

“We still have not finalized the rate increase,” said Mayor Molly Hughes, but she did say it will be coming soon. Council was anticipated to set another workshop date during Tuesday night’s council meeting, which occurred after deadline.

Town council will also be holding public meetings on the proposed increases in the coming months.

LaRue said some of the proposed increase will help cover the cost of some equipment rehabilitation and the purchase of a tighter screen, which would catch smaller non-organic materials in the system. It will also help cover the cost of replacing some of the aging sewer lines.

“There are some locations we know are problems or are going to be,” LaRue said.

It’s difficult to identify problem lines because some of them are 10-12 feet deep in the ground.

“It’s ongoing,” LaRue said. “We don’t know there’s a problem until it’s a problem.”