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Fall City on-site community septic system

Construction August 2024-spring 2026

Construction update

March 18, 2025

The Washington State Department of Health will commission the new on-site treatment plant at Bernard Park this month. That means they review and approve the plans and work up to this point. In April, we will test the system, bury the tanks in Bernard Park and set up small utility buildings to power the new system.

In June, the intense neighborhood work begins to connect the new main sewer line to the personal septic tanks at each of the 48 properties. This includes moving heavy equipment into the area, digging a 10-by-10-foot hole, and setting a new septic tank in place. Contractors then connect that tank to the property’s existing plumbing and electrical system.

If you are getting a new or updated tank, be sure to connect with the Fall City Septic Association Board to see what work needs to be complete before June 1.

Overview

Fall City is an unincorporated rural town with a population of less than 5,000 people and more than 40 businesses in the business district. The town sits where the Snoqualmie River and Raging River come together. The area is important to local Native American tribes.

This project supports the Fall City Business District and the community’s economic future.

The Fall City Business District has many businesses and residences with broken wastewater systems. A 2016 survey showed that only 14 of 62 properties in the business district had updated septic systems. The failing older systems posed a public health risk to the surrounding community and an environmental threat to nearby rivers.

Currently, local businesses cannot expand or keep up with changing demands from customers. For more than 10 years, the Fall City community asked for help to solve this problem.

With the support of state and local elected leaders and King County, we are moving forward with the Fall City on-site septic project, which will connect 46 businesses to an underground pre-treatment facility. The project will repair all failing and non-conforming systems and the new system will provide capacity for conservative growth in the business district. It will treat waste to the highest quality standards required by the Washington State Department of Health.

Location

The project site is in the Fall City Business District, next to the Snoqualmie River and near the intersection of state routes 202 and 203.

Area map

What to expect during construction

  • Access to local business will be maintained throughout construction.
  • Crews will work during the day. Work will sometimes be noisy.

Temporary closures and parking impacts

  • Bernard Memorial Park, near the Roadhouse Inn, will be completely closed to the public for up to 12 months.
  • The alley behind businesses on Redmond-Fall City Road SE between 334th Place and Preston-Fall City Road SE will be closed intermittently in 2025 and early 2026.
  • Parking on the south side of Redmond-Fall City Road SE will be intermittently unavailable during active construction in 2025 and 2026.

How to stay informed

Project schedule

  • August – October 2024

    Build drain field

  • October – December 2024

    Install main sewer line

  • January – September 2025

    Install and commission treatment facility

  • July 2025 – March 2026

    Install and connect septic tanks

  • April 2026

    Project complete

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