Puget Sound Beach CSO Projects, King County Wastewater Treatment Division

Puget Sound Beach CSO Projects

King County begins planning new projects to protect Puget Sound

As part of its mission to protect public health and the environment, King County is responsible for conveying and treating wastewater collected by 34 local city and sewer agencies, including the City of Seattle.

Reducing combined sewer overflows (CSOs)

Like many cities around the country (external link), the older parts of King County's wastewater system carry both wastewater and stormwater to the treatment plant. When heavy rains fill the pipes, excess stormwater and sewage flow directly into local waterbodies. These discharges are called combined sewer overflows or CSOs. When this happens, about 90 percent of the overflow is stormwater and the rest is dilute sewage. CSOs help avoid sewer backups into homes and businesses and onto streets during storms.

CSOs are a public health and environmental concern because untreated wastewater and storm water may be discharged to Puget Sound during large storms. King County’s goal is to reduce the number of CSOs each year, with a long-term goal of less than one untreated discharge per location per year to meet state regulations.

To protect Puget Sound and meet our goal, the county is identifying CSO control options for North Beach, West Seattle, and South Magnolia. These locations are top priority because people are most likely to come in contact with water during recreational activities such as swimming.

Your comments and ideas are welcome

The county is committed to working with the local communities to evaluate alternatives and address suggestions and concerns. We will work with the public to identify potential community and environmental impacts early in the environmental and design review processes. Our public information and involvement program will continue throughout design, construction and operation of the facilities.

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For more information

For more information or to be added to the project mail list, please contact the King County staff below:

North Beach and South Magnolia CSO control projects: call Jennifer Kauffman at 206-263-6029 or 711 TTY Relay or e-mail jennifer.kauffman@kingcounty.gov

West Seattle (Barton and Murray Pump Station Upgrades and CSO control projects): call Martha Tuttle at 206-684-1207 or 711 TTY Relay or e-mail martha.tuttle@kingcounty.gov

Visit our Web site to learn more about the King County CSO Control Program.