King County Water Treatment Station Set to Open

The facility is part of a plan to protect the Duwamish River from polluted runoff from overflowing sewer pipes.

1 minute read

November 25, 2022, 7:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


A water treatment station in South Seattle is opening just in time for the region’s rainy season, when King County’s sewer pipes occasionally overflow and pollute the Duwamish River. Spencer Pauley describes the facility for The Center Square. “The county-owned Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station will be able to treat up to 70 million gallons of polluted stormwater per day during severe rainstorms, according to the county.”

King County Executive Dow Constantine said in a statement. "This major capital project builds on progress we have made throughout the Green [and] Duwamish Watershed to better protect water quality and habitat for people, fish and wildlife.”

The facility will include crews that remove larger solid waste from rain water that is then filtered and disinfected before entering the Duwamish River. “To match the environment surrounding the Puget Sound region, the facility is designed with a plant-covered roof, rain gardens, solar panels and cisterns to irrigate the landscaping with captured rainwater.”

Tuesday, November 22, 2022 in The Center Square

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

A Firefighter sprays water from a hose at a tall blaze.

US buildings threatened, destroyed by fires set to triple by 2060

Researchers found a high fire risk for socioeconomically vulnerable neighborhoods in the American West.

4 hours ago - Inside Climate News

People cross a crosswalk in Los Angeles.

LA residents may be allowed to paint their own crosswalks

Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky put out a motion instructing the Los Angeles Department of Public Transportation to study the feasibility of allowing volunteers to paint crosswalks.

5 hours ago - ABC7

Two women walking on the sidewalk in Dallas.

Dallas moves to overhaul its zoning code

The city's zoning reform will allow more multi-family and mixed-use developments.

6 hours ago - Yahoo News