King County Wastewater Treatment Division

From Gas Station to Green Space! 🌿

Discover how the Mini Mart City Park, once a gas station, is now a thriving eco-friendly art space in Georgetown! Thanks to grants from King County’s WaterWorks and Brownfield programs, this innovative project showcases the many benefits that green infrastructure can have on our local water quality.

Swing by the Mini Mart City Park tonight, as they take part in Georgetown’s FREE monthly art crawl, Art Attack!

Learn more about this inspiring transformation and how you can get involved!

Once a gas station, this converted art space makes an outsized impact on water quality Discover how King County’s WaterWorks Grant Program helped transform a former gas station into an eco-friendly art space in Georgetown. The Mini Mart City Park uses the power of green infrastructur…

We have additional grant opportunities to benefit community and nonprofit organizations in King County!

We’re offering four grants of $27,500 each through the Partners in Water program to help us enhance community engagement in wastewater infrastructure projects.

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on September 30, 2024.

Join us next week for our free online info sessions to learn more about eligibility, the application process, and get your questions answered! 📅

Session 1: September 9 | 9:30 – 11 a.m.
Session 2: September 12 | 2:30 – 4 p.m.

Apply now and be part of a sustainable future! Link in our bio.

Thank you, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance for coming out to see Brightwater Treatment Plant, one of our regional wastewater facilities that protects public health and the environment. What it takes to operate and maintain these complex facilities is important for us to share as we work to improve water quality across the region.

We offer tours to share our work with many public groups, from school children to public officials and community groups.

We’ve got some exciting news! We’re accepting applications for King County’s new Partners in Water grant program.

We’re offering two $25,000 grant opportunities to co-create a career development program with our HR team. Together, we’ll help promote green jobs and help find the next generation of wastewater professionals.

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on September 30, 2024.

Join our free online info sessions to learn more about eligibility, the application process, and get your questions answered! 📅

Session 1: September 9 | 9:30 – 11 a.m.
Session 2: September 12 | 2:30 – 4 p.m.

Apply now and be part of a sustainable future! https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/about-king-county/about-dnrp/grants-partnerships/partners-in-water

The last Discovery Center trivia night of the summer is just around the corner! Gather your friends and family and join us for a fun evening “flushed” with interactive games, p**ptastic prizes, and hands-on activities tied to our current exhibition, A Better Way to Go: Toilets and the Future of Sanitation.

Try a water tasting flight, enjoy light bites, and chat with our staff about the latest in sanitation innovations. RSVP today!

https://www.discovergates.org/events/pop-up-august-trivia-night/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEnEuBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHVsAxHDlHfqj5xaqnYj2eTRbTqW-53LCtq13JO74wo6vNNLVq0UPD4b9iw_aem_9PuqOdp0OKnSdXzTspDl6w

Bring your sanitation smarts and your competitive A-game to the last Discovery Center trivia night of the summer, coming up on Tuesday, Aug. 13 This free gathering will also include other interactive games and hands-on activities tied to our current exhibition, A Better Way to Go: Toilets and the Future of Sanitation.

RSVP: https://www.discovergates.org/events/pop-up-august-trivia-night/

We’re thrilled to announce that our Carnation and Vashon treatment plants have been honored with the Outstanding Performance Award from the Washington Department of Ecology. A huge shoutout to our dedicated team whose unwavering commitment keeps our rivers, lakes, and Puget Sound remain clean and safe. The team’s hard work and expertise are the backbone to our mission to protect water quality! Congratulations to all the other treatment plants across Washington! Learn more:

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024-news-stories/aug1-awards-for-wastewater-treatment-plants

We're a proud sponsor of the Duwamish River Community Coalition's 18th annual River Festival again this year! Come visit our booth to learn about our efforts to improve water quality in the Duwamish River and meet the team working on:
💠 West Duwamish Wet Weather Storage project: kingcounty.gov/westduwamish-cso
💠 Mouth of Duwamish Wet Weather Facilities: kingcounty.gov/mdwetweatherfacilities
💠 Lower Duwamish Waterway Group (Sign up for our upcoming boat tour!): ldwg.org
💠 RainWise: kingcounty.gov/rainwise

The event features free food, family-friendly activities, arts, culture, advocacy and entertainment to celebrate a healthy Duwamish River. We hope to see you this Saturday!

Congratulations to Homestead CLT for earning Salmon-Safe and Zero Energy certifications, showing how affordable housing and environmentally resilient communities can go hand-in-hand! We are pleased that a WaterWorks grant supported green infrastructure features on the Tukwila site, including underground storage of stormwater runoff and bioswales to minimize runoff. We are administering another WaterWorks grant for green stormwater features at an affordable housing project in Bryn Mawr-SkyWay.

The WaterWorks Grant Program, administered by King County Wastewater Treatment Division, has provided more than $22 million for 305 community projects to improve our region’s water quality since it began in 2015. Learn more here: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/about-king-county/about-dnrp/grants-partnerships/waterworks-grant

Attention trail enthusiasts! If you frequent the hiking trails at the Brightwater Treatment Plant, we need your help. Alpha Hill, the hill that towers over the south part of the Brightwater trails area, is permanently closed for restoration. Please stay on the designated trails to protect the surrounding landscape. Informal paths on the steep hillside can harm water quality by sending dirt into Little Bear Creek, a home to endangered salmon.

Plan your next visit using our designated Brightwater trails map, offering three miles of routes for you to enjoy.

Learn more at kingcounty.gov/BrightwaterProjects

The Brightwater trails map is available athttps://cdn.kingcounty.gov/-/media/king-county/depts/dnrp/waste-services/wastewater-treatment/education/docs/bwcenter/brightwater-trail-map.pdf

City of Bothell Government
Snohomish County Government
City of Woodinville - Government

We’ve reached another key milestone in our journey to protecting water quality in Puget Sound and local waterways. Today, King County Council unanimously approved Ordinance 2024-0209, authorizing a modification to the 2013 Consent Decree regulating our Combined Sewage Overflow Control Program.

We appreciate the Council, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington Department of Ecology, and Seattle Public Utilities for their collaboration as we continue advancing clean water projects that are more equitable, climate resilient, and built to last for decades to come.

Learn more about next steps in the approval process and our CSO control program at Kingcounty.gov/CSOInvestments.

Dow Constantine, King County Executive
King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks

Join us at United Indians of All Tribes Foundation's 35th Annual Seafair Indian Days Powwow at Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center in Seattle's Discovery Park! Celebrate with us at this free event featuring Native American dance, food, and art.

Visit our booth to learn about how we protect public health, improve water quality in Puget Sound, and more info about:
• Proper flushing practices
• Workforce Development and Operator-In-Training programs
• West Point Treatment Plant updates

Booth hours:
• Friday, July 19: 4 to 8:30 p.m.
• Saturday, July 20: 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Sunday, July 21: 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Learn more about the Powwow https://unitedindians.org/seafairpowwow/seafair-powwow-2024/

Enjoy some time in the garden with us this summer while also doing something good!

Our CitySoil Farm at South Treatment Plant in Renton is offering summer volunteer events on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. -12 p.m. Ages 6+ welcome and no experience is needed.

Together with our partners: King Conservation District, Dirt Corps, and White Center Food Bank, we educate the community on sustainable gardening while harvesting food for local food banks.

As a volunteer, you’ll even walk away with some free produce to take home after your shift!

Learn more and sign up at kingcounty.gov/CitySoilFarm.

We’re hiring! Join our dedicated team that’s passionate about protecting the environment and making a difference in your community. Current openings for career opportunities across the Wastewater Treatment Division include:

• Wastewater Treatment Operator/Senior Operator
• Inventory Purchasing Specialist
• Safety Specialist
• Strategic Internal Communications Lead
• Industrial Instrument Technician
• Industrial Maintenance Mechanic
• Industrial Instrument Technician

Visit governmentjobs.com/careers/kingcounty?keywords=wastewater to explore all available positions and submit your application today!

We’re marking an important milestone today in our progress toward protecting water quality in Puget Sound and local waterways. Since embarking on the journey in 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington Department of Ecology, Seattle Public Utilities, and King County have negotiated changes to the consent decree that regulates our Combined Sewage Overflow Control Program. The modification will allow us to build better, more equitable and more climate-resilient projects that will last for decades to come.

🔗Learn more at Kingcounty.gov/CSOInvestments

Image description: A lone kayaker paddling on a calm water during a sunset. The kayaker is wearing a life vest and hat.

U.S. EPA, Region 10 King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks

This Thursday: We’re hosting a virtual public meeting at 9 a.m. about our new clean water effort in the **O neighborhood. Visit kingcounty.gov/MDWetWeatherFacilities to learn more and register to attend. Don’t miss it!

The future is looking bright at the Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station, where 182 solar panels will soon find a home.

Thanks to the community decarbonization grant through the state’s Climate Commitment Act, we’ll install a large solar array to reduce our reliance on the electric grid that will allow us to treat combined stormwater and wastewater while minimizing our greenhouse gas emissions.

Thank you to Governor Jay Inslee, Washington State Department of Commerce and Dow Constantine, King County Executive for paying us a visit to celebrate the great news!

Learn more in today’s The Seattle Times article: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/wa-to-distribute-72-million-from-carbon-market-auctions-for-community-energy-projects/

Image 1 description:
Gov. Jay Inslee, and King County Exec. Dow Constantine joined Wastewater Operations Manager Rebecca Singer at the Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station to discuss the installation of 182 solar panels

Image 2 description:
Local journalists, community leaders, and WTD staff tour the Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station and the future site of the solar panel installation.

Image 3 description:
WTD Wastewater Operations Manager, Rebecca Singer, walks Gov. Jay Inslee, and King County Exec. Dow Constantine through the facility while explaining how UV technology is used to disinfect combine stormwater and wastewater during heavy rainstorms.

Image 4 description:
A staff member at WTD walks along the stormwater storage tanks at the Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station.

Image 5 description:
Gov. Jay Inslee speaks to local journalists outside of the Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station.

Image 6 description:
The solids holding tanks at the Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station.

Happy first day of summer! ☀️😎

We are soaking up this sunshine and loving the longer days.

Remember to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially if you’re spending time outdoors. Dehydration can happen quickly! 🚰🧊

Visual description:
1. Three King County employees stand together wearing orange safety vests, hard hats, and protective glasses, looking focused during a site visit to South Treatment Plant in Renton
2. Sunlight reflects off the water, creating a starburst effect on the surface, with gentle ripples visible in the water.
3. King County employees wearing orange safety vests and hard hats walk along a pathway beside a water treatment area under a clear blue sky.

Big news for sustainability at King County Wastewater Treatment Division! The $200,076 community decarbonization grant from the state's Climate Commitment Act will allow us to install approximately 182 solar panels at our Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station, significantly reducing energy consumption as we continue to protect water quality!

Commerce today announced $72.6 million in grants for 71 community clean energy projects across Washington that advance environmental justice and equity. The funding from the state’s Climate Commitment Act will benefit communities in 24 counties through solar projects, hydrogen fueling, electricity microgrids and more.

This afternoon, Governor Jay Inslee, Dow Constantine, King County Executive and the Duwamish River Community Coalition joined Commerce team members for a tour of the Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station in Seattle to announce the funding. The facility helps control, treat, and disinfect up to 70 million gallons per day of combined stormwater and sewage that previously overflowed, untreated into the Duwamish River during heavy rains. With a $200,076 grant, the facility will install a large solar photovoltaic array onsite to help offset the increased energy use by the UV disinfection treatment technology.

All of the projects receiving grants had to include an environmental justice angle, meaning they had to benefit the people most impacted by climate change, who are typically lower income and people of color.

“These awards get money into the hands of people who can immediately put it to use fighting climate change,” said Commerce Director Mike Fong. “These communities were empowered to use their own discretion to create projects that meet their needs, which will improve outcomes for everyone in Washington.”

Read the full press release: https://bit.ly/3RxNSH0

King County Wastewater Treatment Division

Curious about our new clean water initiative in the S**O neighborhood? Join us for tomorrow’s virtual public meeting to learn more and share your thoughts with the King County team. Register now: kingcounty.gov/MDWetWeatherFacilities

Thank you, Seattle Public Utilities, for sharing our progress on the Ship Canal Water Quality Project with King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci this week. Here we are at the Ballard shaft where a large pump station will send polluted water stored in a giant underground tunnel to our West Point Treatment Plant after heavy rains. The project will prevent 75 million gallons of polluted water from entering local waterways each year!

Learn more at https://spushipcanal.participate.online

We’re excited to announce plans for new wet weather facilities in the S**O neighborhood! To explore our online open house, share your insights, and discover more ways to get involved with the King County team, visit kingcounty.gov/MDWetWeatherFacilities

Photo courtesy of King County Metro Transit

The sun-soaked roof on top of the new battery building at West Point Treatment Plant is the latest location where WTD is adding solar power! West Point's 140-panel solar array will power lighting and HVAC for the battery building and make a dent in King County's climate goals of 1.5 megawatts of solar by the end of 2025.

Wastewater treatment is energy-intensive, so we're tucking solar power into our operations to lower our greenhouse gas footprint.

Check out our blog for more details about our upcoming projects!
https://kingcountywtd.com/2024/05/24/powering-sustainability-wtd-boosts-solar-capacity-for-a-bright-future/

We’re not the only ones enjoying the sunshine! The plants at our CitySoil Farm are flourishing, too! Located at South Plant, our farm welcomes spring with a vibrant array of annuals and perennials, all thriving through sustainable practices. Using biosolids and recycled water, this garden is a model for sustainable urban agriculture! 🌼🌼🌼

Join us on Thursday evening! We will be there answering questions about the wastewater treatment process in King County.

How is sanitation connected to education, climate, and disease? Join us this Thursday to learn more, and hear how you can make a difference–and how investing in sanitation can lead to a healthier, more resilient future for all!

Free to attend | All ages welcome | In-person & virtual options

RSVP ➡️ gates.ly/3PSrFTc

What a day at the Washington Women in Trades Fair! Great conversations and a lot of enthusiasm for careers at WTD. 🔧💧

A special shout-out to Washington Women in Trades for putting on the event.

Missed us? Find out more about career opportunities with WTD at https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/waste-services/wastewater-treatment/about/join-our-team

The incident at our North Mercer-Enatai Project has been resolved. The PSE gas line was capped at 10:12 am and is being repaired. Several residents who were evacuated are able to return their homes. Traffic at the I-90 offramps to East Mercer Way has been fully restored. Note: we still have regular construction detours in place. Learn more about the project to improve sewer capacity for the next 50 years.

North Mercer Island/Enatai sewer upgrade - King County, Washington The North Mercer Island/Enatai Sewer Upgrade Project will replace aging pipes serving areas in North Mercer Island and Bellevue near Enatai Beach, and the Town of Beaux Arts Village.