BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Sudden Valley is getting new reservoirs fit to withstand earthquakes.

A groundbreaking will be held at 3 p.m. this Thursday, May 2 at the new 16,000-square foot site near Swallow Circle.

Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District General Manager Justin Clary said the project will likely finish up next summer.

An aerial photograph of the proposed location for the new Sudden Valley reservoirs with the proposed location and the old reservoir marked out on the photo in red. Courtesy of Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District.

The funding for the $3 million project largely comes from a FEMA hazard mitigation grant from back in 2017 following heavy rainfall in the county. Sudden Valley’s over 50-year-old reservoir was determined in 2016 to be the most vulnerable to failure following an earthquake compared to others in the district. The new silo reservoirs will be connected to an earthquake early warning system and meet current seismic standards.

Clary said actual work on the project will largely happen over the summer from June 1 to Sept. 30 with noise hours set from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The replacement silos will be constructed over the winter and installed in early 2025 with expectations of functionality shortly thereafter. Then demolition will span all of next summer for the old site and reservoir. Water service should not be disrupted during construction.

Clary said that Lake Whatcom’s Basin No. 3 feeds the district’s treatment plant at 28 Morning Beach Dr. which in turn sends treated water to the reservoirs.

If you plan on attending the groundbreaking, the water and sewer district is asking you to park at their treatment plant and they will shuttle attendants to the new site.