Competing Priorities

Under the Growth Management Act (GMA), cities are required to develop an infrastructure to accommodate growth. But many cities struggle to update aging infrastructure, expand systems for new homes and businesses, while also navigating state and federal regulations.

Incorporated in the late 1800s, the City of Snohomish is struggling to retrofit an old infrastructure while simultaneously working to lay a foundation for future growth. The city is in one of the state’s fastest -growing counties, expected to grow 35 percent by 2025.

The city’s infrastructure challenges include:

• Upgrading the wastewater treatment plant as a result of tighter discharge permit requirements on the Snohomish River;
• Dealing with combined sewer overflows from the old sections of town;
• Replacing 80-year-old iron drinking water pipes;
• Upgrading the water treatment plant to keep up with new Department of Health rules;
• Meeting new stormwater permit requirements; and
• Working to provide new sewer hook ups so future homes can be connected to city sewer rather than separate septic systems.

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