Edmonds' Failed Poop Project: What Went Wrong?

Edmonds' Big Plan to Turn Sewage into Energy Has Turned into a Smelly Mess

The city spent a lot of money on a new system called gasification. This was supposed to replace an old incinerator. But it hasn't worked out as planned.

The System's Failures

The system was supposed to:

• Destroy harmful chemicals
• Make energy

Instead, it just:

• Squeezes and cleans liquid from raw sewage
• Sends solid waste to a landfill

The Fallout

The city put the treatment plant manager, Ross Hahn, on leave. He told the truth about the plant not working. Is this fair? He was just honest.

The city council was warned about this project. Gasification works best with consistent fuel sources like wood waste. But the council was told it would be:

• "Green"
• Save energy
• Destroy toxic chemicals

Now, the plant is not doing what it was supposed to do.

Neighborhood Uproar

Neighbors are upset. They have to deal with smelly containers outside their windows. The city might have to spend more money on lawsuits.

The Future of Sewage

Where will they send the sewage now? Other cities like:

• Shoreline
• Mountlake Terrace
• Olympic View Water and Sewer District

are involved. King County might take the sewage, but at what cost?

The Lesson Learned

The only "green" thing about this project is the millions spent on failed technology. The city needs to think carefully about its next steps. What can be learned from this mistake?