Water Quality – King County Wastewater Treatment Division

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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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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Two men and a woman stand on a factory floor next to a pallet with several metal barrels on it. The two men are wearing black shirts and blue jeans, they both have on safety glasses, and one is wearing a backwards, orange, hat. The woman is wearing safety glasses, an orange safety vest, and blue jeans. Around them, and in the background, there are various pieces of industrial equipment and supplies, like water tanks, the barrels, and several unidentifiable pieces of equipment. They are standing almost in the center of the frame, with the rest of the picture featuring the factory and its many pieces of equipment.

Water Quality

November 27, 2024

Aerospace manufacturer thinks globally but acts locally to protect Puget Sound waters

Hidden amongst Auburn’s dealerships, an aerospace parts manufacturer has innovatively managed their industrial wastewater. Their pretreatment process has ensured perfect permit compliance for five years, earning them King County’s Commitment to Compliance award in 2024. Their story showcases how government…

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Water Quality

February 15, 2023

Got a great idea to improve water quality? WaterWorks grant program offering $5 million in project money

Every two years, the program funds organizations to test out water quality improvement ideas. Nonprofits, tribes, schools and universities, towns, special purpose districts … good ideas come if from all kinds of organizations and partnerships are encouraged.

Marie Fiore

Water Quality

May 21, 2020

Local businesses recognized for 2019 environmental compliance

King County’s Industrial Waste Program recognized 59 local industrial facilities for their commitment to business practices that support the local economy while protecting regional water quality. Each year, the Industrial Waste Program, which operates as part of King County’s Wastewater…

Marie Fiore

Community People Water Quality

April 24, 2020

Earth Day: Sticking to values in tough times

Beach clean up: debris and garbage is removed from the Discovery Park beach by King County wastewater worker volunteers Wastewater treatment is essential to protecting public health and the environment – but we do more than treat the region’s wastewater.…

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Community Water Quality

December 30, 2019

WaterWorks grants funding 69 community projects in 2020

King County’s WaterWorks Grant Program is fulfilling its mission to invest in clean water and community partnerships. The King County Council recently passed an ordinance to approve the funding, moving work forward on projects around the region that will include…

Community Water Quality

October 28, 2019

Let WTD know your priorities for the Clean Water Plan

Online Clean Water Plan questionnaire closes Nov. 1 -- tell us what you think Since spring 2019, we have been talking with people about the Clean Water Plan and listening to their priorities for our rivers, lakes, and Puget Sound. …

Marie Fiore

Water Quality

April 26, 2019

Green Globe Awards announced for 2019

On Earth Day🌎, King County Executive Dow Constantine recognized 13 businesses, cities, organizations and people for the work they’re doing to protect and improve the local environment with the Green Globe Awards. The Green Globe Awards are the County’s highest…

People Water Quality

April 23, 2019

They’re not your usual beachcombers

This Earth Day, a determined group of engineers, scientists, lab technicians, technical trainers, managers and more stormed the shore in Discovery Park picking up litter and debris. The staff at West Point Wastewater Treatment Plant take their stewardship of the…

Operations People Water Quality

March 1, 2019

King County Wastewater Treatment supports diversity through our Operator in Training Program.

Recently, our utility's work to recruit employees that represent our diverse and growing communities through our Operator in Training (OIT) Program was featured in the Water Environment Federation magazine. Visit the link or read the excerpt below: https://news.wef.org/king-county-enhances-diversity-through-operator-in-training-program/ King County…

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Water Quality

December 5, 2018

Saving SoundGuardian

Cross-posted from The Downstream Blog: View of the lumberyard fire behind the King County Environmental Lab from across the Fremont Cut. On the night of Saturday, Nov. 10, a four-alarm fire started at a lumberyard right across from the King…

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