King County Wastewater Treatment Division

Gloved worker climbs into a maintenance hole, one arm braced on the rim, with the cover set aside on the pavement.

Infrastructure Operations

May 13, 2026

Inside the pipes that keep everything flowing

Beneath King County streets, crews inspect hundreds of miles of sewer pipes to help keep wastewater flowing reliably. Follow along with the conveyance inspection team as they send cameras and a remote-controlled crawler deep below the surface.

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Aerial view of a large wastewater treatment facility located on a narrow shoreline surrounded by blue water. The plant includes a building with solar panels on the roof. In the distance across the water, a tree-lined coast and snow-capped mountains are visible under a clear sky.

Sustainability

April 6, 2026

Clean energy projects bring $5.2 million in savings for WTD

Through federal and local energy-efficiency incentives, clean energy projects at West Point Treatment Plant earned King County $5.2 million in savings for the 2024 tax year.

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Portrait of a maintenance worker wearing a hard hat and safety vest, holding a long trimming tool on a wooded path in fall.

Operations People

January 21, 2026

The senior gardener at South Treatment Plant sees the beauty in it all

For more than 20 years, Jim Davis has cared for the 90 acres around South Treatment Plant, bringing a careful eye and a sense of beauty to the everyday work that keeps the grounds thriving.

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Workers in hard hats and safety vests stand together in a forest during an on-site project discussion.

WTD Updates

December 23, 2025

Progress across communities, waterways, and projects in 2025

Steady work strengthened the system, from capital upgrades to river cleanup and daily operations.

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Wastewater Treatment Operator Tyler Stiltner wearing a high visibility jacket stands near flooded land in Carnation.

Operations

December 12, 2025

Stranded but steady: Operator keeps Carnation Treatment Plant running during atmospheric river

When flooding cut off the Carnation Treatment Plant, Wastewater Operator Tyler Stiltner stayed onsite to keep it running.

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A WTD operator stands beside a large multi-cylinder generator used for emergency power.

Operations

November 26, 2025

Rainy season is here, meet our backup generators

Our backup generators and offsite operators work together to keep pumps and critical equipment running when storms take out the power.

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A group of people wearing yellow hard hats and orange safety vests touring a wastewater treatment facility.

Water Quality

October 30, 2025

Protecting Puget Sound through source control

The King County Industrial Waste Program is offering treatment plant tours and conducting a comprehensive survey to help manage industrial pollutants, including PFAS and 6PPD-Q, that could enter our regional wastewater system and impact Puget Sound.

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Community People

October 24, 2025

Building independence through inclusion

At Brightwater Treatment Plant, young adults in the ATI program tackle real-world challenges while building confidence and job skills along the way. Their hands-on work not only transforms the landscape but also sparks personal growth, independence, and lasting pride.

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Two conveyance inspectors in high-visibility orange shirts and yellow hard hats standing behind a large sewer pipe-cleaning truck equipped with hoses and a control panel. One worker holds a remote control.

Infrastructure Operations People Sustainability Water Quality

September 12, 2025

New sewer cleaning truck extends the life of King County pipes

King County's new custom-built sewer cleaning truck uses high-pressure jets and filtered wastewater to clear debris from our 380-miles of pipe system.

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Three people in hard hats and safety vests tour an industrial facility, standing near a wall of metal pipes and yellow control boxes.

Operations Sustainability

August 13, 2025

When electrical demand peaks, South Plant quietly fires up its own power supply

When the region’s power grid is stretched, South Plant’s cogen system quietly switches on, generating its own electricity from biogas to keep the plant running and the community resilient.

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A group of firefighters in safety gear coordinates a rescue using ropes and equipment over an open hatch inside a treatment plant.

Operations

July 18, 2025

Firefighters train for real emergencies with rope rescue drill at South Plant

Joint training exercises at King County’s South Treatment Plant bring together firefighters and WTD staff to practice confined space rescues, using ropes, harnesses, and supplied air lines to keep everyone safe and ready for real emergencies.

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A smiling man in a patterned sweater speaks with a woman at the King County Jumpstart Contractor Network booth, surrounded by flyers, a laptop, and informational signs.

Community Infrastructure

June 11, 2025

Building the local economy through clean water projects

Clean water projects are creating more than infrastructure. They're creating opportunity. See how King County is supporting local jobs, small businesses, and a more equitable future.

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Clean Water Stories

from King County

Inside the pipes that keep everything flowing

Clean energy projects bring $5.2 million in savings for WTD

The senior gardener at South Treatment Plant sees the beauty in it all

Progress across communities, waterways, and projects in 2025

Stranded but steady: Operator keeps Carnation Treatment Plant running during atmospheric river

Rainy season is here, meet our backup generators

Protecting Puget Sound through source control

Building independence through inclusion

New sewer cleaning truck extends the life of King County pipes

When electrical demand peaks, South Plant quietly fires up its own power supply

Firefighters train for real emergencies with rope rescue drill at South Plant

Building the local economy through clean water projects

Clean Water Stories

from King County

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