Newman Lake Advanced Wastewater Treatment Pilot Study

Innovative Technology Installed and Being Tested to Improve Water Quality

Poor water quality has been a widespread, long-term issue impacting property owners around Newman Lake. Previous studies have shown that stormwater runoff and inadequate septic systems are contributing to elevated nitrogen and phosphorus levels in Newman Lake. Nitrogen and phosphorus are essential for plant and animal growth, but too much of these nutrients can have adverse effects on human health and the environment. Most of the phosphorus loading at Newman Lake is in the form of biological reactive phosphorus and is readily available for immediate algal uptake upon reaching the lake.

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Spokane Conservation District is collaborating with the Washington State Department of Ecology, Spokane County, and local property owners to improve the health of Newman Lake by finding an alternative to failing septic systems. A pilot project, aimed at installing small-scale enhanced treatment upgrades for two sites in Honeymoon Bay. This state-of-the-art technology has been shown to be far more effective at protecting public health and water quality than the systems currently in use.

The image on the right provides a start-to-finish overview of how the program works.

Ready to schedule a site visit?

Please fill out this application form.

You may also reach out to Lindsay@SpokaneCD.org