City of Tacoma Environmental Services
The Center for Urban Waters was constructed to house the City's Environmental Services analytical laboratories and Science and Engineering Division. These units outgrew their former facilities and were working in temporary trailers in different locations. The new facility provides for work efficiencies and improved communication among staff members.
The Environmental Services section of the Public Works Department provides critical environmental services to the residents living in and around Tacoma. Made up of the Solid Waste, Wastewater and Surface Water utilities, the Environmental Services section employs nearly 450 staff and is entirely funded by the sale of services, not taxes.
Environmental Services encourages citizen participation and funds dozens of citizen-led projects each year that improve Tacoma's environment. The section operates an award-winning environmental education program targeting grades 2-8 that reaches more than 20,000 people each year through classroom lessons and community events.
On a day-to-day basis, Solid Waste Management provides curbside garbage, recycling and yard waste collection for approximately 53,000 single-family residential homes and 4,800 multi-family units and commercial businesses. The utility also operates a full-service landfill, recycling center and hazardous waste collection facility.
Wastewater Management provides more than 300,000 people in Tacoma and several outlying communities with sanitary sewer service. The utility maintains more than 700 miles of sanitary sewer pipe and 52 pump stations, and operates two treatment plants that clean roughly 10 billion gallons of wastewater each year. Wastewater Management also produces premium TAGRO biosolids soil amendment products. Tacoma is the only municipality in the country to produce a mulch and potting soil out of its biosolids.
Surface Water Management and its associated Science and Engineering staff oversee more than 66,000 surface water accounts and maintain more than 500 miles of stormwater pipe and 22,000-plus stormwater catch basins. Surface Water staff also handle the complex regulations surrounding stormwater pollution, erosion and environmental permitting issues. In 2006, the utility completed a $105 million Superfund cleanup of the Thea Foss and Wheeler-Osgood Waterways, which is contributing to the economic resurgence of Tacoma's waterfront.
Christopher L. Getchell, an Environmental Services Assistant Division Manager for the City of Tacoma, has more than 33 years of experience in the private and public sector working for environmental laboratories. Christopher has led work groups focusing on environmental laboratory analysis of stormwater, wastewater, sediment and soil. In Christopher’s current position with the City, he leads the Wastewater Management Environmental Laboratory, whose mission is to provide high-quality analytical laboratory services for the City and its regional partners responding to environmental regulations, supporting research and developing solutions to environmental problems facing the greater Tacoma area and Puget Sound. Christopher holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Oceanography. Over the years, he has delivered numerous papers on classification of class 4 bio-solids, biological monitoring of wastewater effluents through bioassay testing, and selection of a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
Lorna Mauren, an Environmental Services Assistant Division Manager for the City of Tacoma, has more than 25 years of experience in the private and public sector working for stormwater utilities. Lorna has led work groups that have developed and implemented vital stormwater programs and policy and completed a wide range of capital projects. In Lorna’s current position with the City, she leads the Science and Engineering Surface Water Section whose mission is to provide policy, planning and engineering services for the Surface Water Utility. The section helps direct resources of the utility toward innovative and fiscally responsible programs and projects that protect sensitive receiving waters, operate and maintain critical infrastructure, and satisfy regulatory requirements. Lorna holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Washington.
Geoffrey Smyth, an Environmental Services Division Manager for the City of Tacoma, has more than 20 years of experience in the private and public sector working for water and wastewater utilities. Geoff has led work groups focusing on water quality through water distribution, water treatment and wastewater treatment operations. In Geoff’s current position with the City of Tacoma, he leads the Science and Engineering Division, whose mission is to provide engineering, technical and compliance support for the Surface Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste utilities. The division helps create sustainable solutions for the management of a variety of environmental programs that are essential to cleaning up Commencement Bay and Puget Sound. Geoff holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Washington and a Certified State of Washington Water Distribution Manager IV. He is an active member of the American Water Works Association, the Water Environment Federation, and the American Public Works Association.
