Public invited to celebrate more than 40 years of clean water

Open house Oct. 14 at regional wastewater treatment plant in Renton groups witnessing wastewater treatment process

Ever wonder what happens to water when you brush or flush? How does wastewater produce resources like natural gas, electricity, and water for irrigation and industry?

Find out on Saturday, Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to Noon when King County’s South Treatment Plant hosts an open house with free facility tours for community members. The plant is located at 1200 Monster Road S.W., Renton.

Visitors can meet division staff, enjoy some refreshments, learn about the nearby Black River watershed and heron rookery, and see how the plant protects water quality and creates resources from the wastewater it treats each day.

King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division is hosting the event to thank its customers for their support in protecting public health and the environment, and to give people an insider’s view into the past, present and future of the regional wastewater treatment utility.

Since 1965, South Treatment Plant has been protecting regional water quality by treating about 115 million gallons of wastewater each day from as far north as Mill Creek in south Snohomish County and as far south as a bit of northeast Pierce County near Auburn. And it’s treating the wastewater from most other cities and sewer districts in east and southeast King County. In addition, the plant accepts and treats 17 million gallons of wastewater a year that’s pumped from thousands of septic tanks in the King County region.

Directions to the South Treatment Plant are available on the Web at http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wtd/directions/directions-south.htm or by calling 206-296-8361, or TTY 711. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities will be provided on request.