King County and City of Seattle to continue improving water quality under negotiated changes with regulators to control remaining sewer outfalls

News

King County Wastewater Treatment Division and Seattle Public Utilities have negotiated several important changes to their mandates to control combined sewer overflows into local waters.

King County Wastewater Treatment Division and Seattle Public Utilities have separate consent decrees with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Washington Department of Ecology. The proposed changes enable closer coordination between King County and Seattle on remaining, combined sewer overflow obligations, and ensure each agency’s future investments can adapt to climate change, support sustainable sewer rates, and create equitable water quality outcomes for generations to come.

Since the consent decrees were signed in 2013, King County and City of Seattle have been making significant investments in controlling combined sewer overflows. To learn more about these important water quality investments, visit:

• Seattle Public Utilities blog
• King County Wastewater Treatment Division website

For the changes to take effect, King County Council and Seattle City Council will each need to approve their respective consent decree modifications, followed by approval in U.S. District Court.

Multimedia

• PHOTOS: Combined sewer overflow facilities
• PHOTOS: Ship Canal Water Quality Project
• VIDEO: Combined sewer overflows

Resources

• Learn more about how the modified consent decree will produce better results for water quality in King County
• STORYMAP: Seattle Public Utilities: Achievements in reducing combined sewer overflows
• Seattle Public Utilities: Preventing sewer overflows
• King County Combined Sewer Overflow Treatment Facilities