King County Wastewater Treatment Division Accomplishments

2007

What we do

The division protects water quality and prevents water pollution by providing wastewater treatment to 17 cities and 17 local sewer utilities. It treats wastewater for nearly 1.4 million residents in King County and parts of Pierce and Snohomish counties, including maintaining and operating the equipment and facilities that collect and treat wastewater before it is reused or released into Puget Sound. Its vision, “Creating Resources from Wastewater,” guides the division’s actions to turn the byproducts from wastewater treatment into valuable, recyclable resources for the community and the environment.

• Enhancing quality of life: recycling byproducts and reclaiming water
• Serving growth: constructing new facilities
• Protecting public health and safety: environmental cleanup
• Earning public trust: investing in the future
• Outlook

Enhancing quality of life: recycling byproducts and reclaiming water

Recyclable biosolids, the nutrient-rich organic byproduct of the treatment process, are in high demand as fertilizer for crops, such as in revegetating forests, and as an ingredient in compost for landscaping and home gardens. In 2007, King County recycled 100 percent of its biosolids, providing enough nutrients to fertilize about 7,000 acres of farms and forests.

The division continues to expand how it captures and uses the energy, gas and heat created in the treatment process through alternative “green” energy technologies. New facilities are being built using a variety of sustainable design methods. In 2007, the Brightwater Environmental Education Center received a $675,000 grant from the state to help cover costs associated with final architectural design and meeting U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Gold standards.

In June, state and local leaders joined County Executive Sims in signing a formal declaration of support for the continued development and use of reclaimed water in communities throughout Washington. Reclaimed water is wastewater that is treated to such a high level it can be used safely and effectively for nondrinking purposes, such as landscape and agricultural irrigation, heating and cooling and industrial processes.

Serving growth: constructing new facilities

In May, the Vashon community celebrated the completion of the Vashon Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade and construction of the plant’s outfall in deeper water. As a result of new outfall, the Washington State Department of Health reclassified about 160 acres of commercial shellfish growing beds in the area from “prohibited” to “approved,” which means valuable geoduck clams can now be harvested. Additionally, a mitigation project removed 5.3 acres of derelict fishing nets from Colvos Passage so they longer pose a safety risk to divers and marine life.

Construction continued on Brightwater, the new treatment plant that will come online in 2010 to serve growth in north and east King County and southern Snohomish County. Nearly all of the construction bidding has been completed for the project, which will provide stability in the division’s financial plans over the next few years as the division invests $500 million in capital projects in 2008 alone.

Construction was completed in October on the first phase of a reclaimed water wetland enhancement project at Chinook Bend Natural Area, just north of Carnation. The 59-acre ecological land will use highly treated wastewater from Carnation’s new treatment plant, which is scheduled to come online in 2008.

In October, the Shoreline community celebrated the completion of wastewater facilities in and around Boeing Creek Park. King County and the City of Shoreline worked with the public to design a facility that blends in with the park. Most of the wastewater facility structures were placed underground to minimize impacts to the park’s large trees.

Protecting public health and safety: environmental cleanup

Dredging barges working just offshore Myrtle Edwards Park in Seattle began removing an estimated 14,000 cubic yards of contaminated material near the old Denny Way outfall, improving water quality and habitat for fish and wildlife. King County worked closely with the Department of Ecology, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, NOAA Fisheries and other agencies in planning the project.

Earning public trust: investing in the future

In 2007, both major bond rating agencies maintained the strong ratings of King County wastewater bonds. For ratepayers, the strong bond ratings help minimize the cost of borrowing to fund capital improvement projects.

Moody’s Investor’s Service assigned an A1 rating to the agency’s revenue parity bonds, unchanged from last year, and Standard & Poor’s maintained the county’s upgraded AA rating issued in 2006. Factors cited by both firms issuing the high bond rating include strong management practices, continued positive financial performance and commitment to capital improvement.

The division’s 10-year productivity initiative to encourage employee innovation, involvement and accountability entered its sixth year. The pilot program provides employees with financial incentives for achieving established savings targets, to be shared equally with ratepayers. Savings to ratepayers since 2001 now stand at nearly $42.8 million.

Outlook

In 2008 and beyond, the Wastewater Treatment Division will continue to maintain the organization’s sound fiscal health through conservative financial practices. The division will also continue to advance its environmental agenda by creating resources from wastewater, preparing for climate change and ongoing environmental cleanup.

Continuing its forward-thinking program to ensure the regional sewer system functions reliably and keeps pace with growth, the division will invest an estimated $3.2 billion by 2013 in dozens of major capital improvement projects and numerous smaller ones that will protect public health and water quality.

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For questions about the Wastewater Treatment Division Web site, please send an e-mail message. For general information about the division, contact us at:

Department of Natural Resources and Parks
Wastewater Treatment Division
201 S. Jackson St., Suite 505
Seattle, WA 98104-3855
Phone: 206-684-1280
Fax: 206-684-1741
Telecommunication device for the deaf (TTY): 711

Updated: April 1, 2008
 

Related Information:
WTD News Releases

The Business We Do -- 24/7

Environmental Stewardship in King County
2007 Annual Report, Department of Natural Resources and Parks