September 8, 2003

News Release
Brief wastewater overflow from West Seattle pump station

The Seattle City Light power outage on September 7 in West Seattle caused a brief wastewater overflow into Puget Sound from King County's Murray Avenue Pump Station at 7015 Beach Drive S.W. To protect public health, King County closed the beach temporarily at Lowman Beach Park while it took and analyzed water samples.

About 40,000 gallons of wastewater overflowed from 3-4 p.m., when a portable emergency generator began providing power for the pump station.

Following standard procedures, King County contacted local government, regulatory, environmental and health agencies about the overflow.

Emergency generators installed at all King County wastewater treatment plants and most pump stations provide electricity whenever there's a power outage. King County is installing permanent generators at other facilities, including the Murray Pump Station in 2004.

King County's Wastewater Treatment Division protects public health and water quality by serving 18 cities, 15 sewer districts and more than 1.4 million residents in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties.

Related Information

Wastewater Treatment Division Facts at a glance about our wastewater system

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