History of King County's Regional Wastewater Treatment Utility

The birth of Metro

The story of the wastewater treatment utility now serving the Seattle-King County region began in 1956 when a group of local residents became concerned about the effect of rapid urban growth, especially the decline of Lake Washington.

These conditions - and other regional concerns -- prompted citizens to begin a three-year study of metropolitan problems. Because of this study, citizens proposed a state law that would allow local government in Washington to form metropolitan federations.

Called metropolitan municipal corporations, those federations could solve problems that crossed over the boundaries of cities, counties and special districts. In 1957, the state Legislature passed this measure by one vote on the last day of the session.

At the urging of the citizens committee, a ballot measure to establish the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle was placed before voters in spring 1958. This measure would have given the agency responsibility for water pollution control, public transportation and comprehensive planning within its boundaries. The proposal passed within Seattle but failed in some suburban areas.

The citizen activists came back to organize a second effort, this time directed at solving the most pressing problem of the area: water pollution. This measure was placed on the ballot in the fall 1958. Endorsements came from both major political parties, the county commissioners, mayors of all 11 incorporated cities in the metropolitan and all major civic groups.

The result, on Sept. 9, 1958, was an election victory and the birth of Metro (external link). The measure got a 58 percent yes vote in Seattle and 67 percent in suburban areas.

Less than a year later, Metro would earn Look magazine's All-America City Award, even before the agency poured concrete or treated sewage. The honor was not for improving water quality but for "progress achieved through intelligent citizen action."

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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: Oct. 12, 2005
 

Related Information:
Milestones - King County Sesquicentennial (1852-2002)

HistoryLink.org -- the Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History (external link)

The History of Sanitary Sewers (external link)