| October 16, 2003
News Release
The additions include three modular-design benches, known as the Tempo bench, made from recycled plastic collected from area curbside recycling programs, and 83 water-conserving plumbing fixtures installed in the center's restrooms and locker rooms. In addition, a water filtration system using 100 percent recycled glass is processing 1 million gallons of water every six hours, keeping the water clean and clear. "The improvements at the Weyerhauser King County Aquatic Center show how in this time of budget constraints we can accomplish our dual goals of cutting costs and conserving natural resources," says King County Executive Ron Sims. "The benches, new water fixtures and filtration system will all enhance the experience of swimmers at the King County Aquatic Center at the same time they help us be more cost efficient." Recycled-plastic benches Three blue, four-person Tempo benches made from heavy-duty molded recycled plastic will be installed outside the Aquatic Center's front doors in mid-October. The benches were designed and manufactured by MetaMorf Design, located in Bellingham, Wash. MetaMorf Design participates in King County's LinkUp program, which works with area businesses to help them incorporate more recycled materials into the products they make. The materials used in the Tempo bench are the result of local recycling efforts and years of design research. In addition to using recycled materials, the bench is also recyclable by MetaMorf. That means when the bench much be replaced, the materials from it will be reprocessed and used again, not thrown away. Colin Reedy, president of MetaMorf, recently won first-place for the Tempo bench (and for his Clima chair also made with recycled plastic) at the sixth International Design Resources Award competition in Kanagawa, Japan. The competition is open to design professionals and students from around the world who have created products using recycled and environmentally friendly materials. Reedy traveled to Japan in early October to accept his award. Water-conserving fixtures This summer, 83 new water-conserving plumbing fixtures were installed at the Aquatic Center. These included low-flow toilets, waterless and low-flow urinals and timed low-flow faucets. Fourteen low-flow shower fixtures will be added at a later date. Water savings from these installations are expected to exceed two million gallons a year – enough to fill the Olympic sized pool twice -- saving approximately $10,000 annually on water, sewer and energy bills. Eventually, all King County pools and high-use parks will have low-flow faucets and toilets and low-flow or waterless urinals, along with timed showers. Each low-flow toilet saves about 3 gallons per flush. Staff find the waterless urinals and low-flow toilets easy to maintain, and research shows they work as effectively as fixtures that use more water. Recycled-glass filtration system Every six hours, more than one million gallons of water in the Center's two pools are filtered through tanks containing 18 tons of 100 percent recycled glass. The recycled glass filtration media, known as VitroClean®, is manufactured by TriVitro Corporation, located in Kent, Wash., another LinkUp program participant. First introduced in the late 1990s, VitroClean has been used in many applications – from swimming pools and spas to storm water runoff, ponds and aquariums. TriVitro is the only Northwest company that uses 100 percent recycled glass to create products specifically for an industrial market. Using recycled glass granules instead of silica sand in the filtration system offers the Aquatic Center many benefits: Recycled glass granules weigh less per cubic foot, filter more efficiently, produce clearer water and need to be replaced less often than sand (7 years versus 5 years), lowering operating costs. The King County Aquatic Center is one of the top swimming facilities in the U.S. and one of only three in the country recognized as a world-class venue for international competition. Since it opened in 1990, the Center has hosted all types of events – from international Olympic events to regional championships to family swims. More than 500,000 people each year visit the facility, which has an eight-lane, 50-meter Olympic pool, a dive pool tank with five platform levels, a 25-yard warm water recreation pool and an 11,000 square foot conference center. Related Information
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Recent additions to the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way are helping King County conserve resources and save money. 
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