Marina Park Remains Closed, Boat Launch Open after Wastewater Spill

The beach at Marina Park remains closed Friday and until further notice, the city of Kirkland said in a press release, but the city's boat launch at the park is open for use. 

King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) is working with Public Health to conduct water quality sampling after . 

Park visitors are encouraged to heed the closure signs and not enter the water.  Annie Kolb-Nelson, a King County WTD spokeswoman, said the warning applies to both humans and pets until levels of fecal coliform bacteria is approved as safe by King County Public Health.

"If people do see those signs, avoid contact with the water," Kolb-Nelson said.

The City’s boat launch at Marina Park is open, however.

The overflow was caused when a transmitter failed to signal two of the station’s pumps to begin operating and a third switch experienced failure on Thursday around 1 p.m. 

"It was a freak set of circumstances," Kolb-Nelson said.

City and County crews are on site cleaning up debris, the city of Kirkland said in the news release.

Kirkland Public Information Officer Marie Stake said the water was tested at 10 a.m. this morning, and will be tested every 12 hours until the acceptable level is confirmed, but the test results take 24 hours, so there was no way on Friday to determine if the water is safe.

In 2011, King County Wastewater began an upgrade to its Kirkland Pump Station located at 3rd Street and Park Lane.  Construction to increase its capacity, replace aging equipment and install new, larger diameter pipes is expected to be complete in 2014.  For project information, go to www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/Construction/East/Kirkland.