Report identifies over 17 million gallons of untreated wastewater has been spilled into Puget Sound, Lake Washington in recent years

The document recommends roughly $70 million in facility improvements.

West Point Treatment Plant in Seattle. Photo courtesy of King County

West Point Treatment Plant in Seattle. Photo courtesy of King County

The King County Council’s Regional Water Quality Committee on Wednesday received a key report recommending electrical upgrades, strategies to adjust back-up power and more to prevent future wastewater spills like the failure that led to the spilling of millions of gallons of untreated wastewater into Puget Sound and Lake Washington on January 13, 2021.

The report identified that between the East Pine Pump Station, Medina Pump Station, the Richmond Beach Pump Station and the West Point Treatment Plant, over 17,000,000 gallons of untreated wastewater have been accidentally spilt into the Puget Sound and Lake Washington since May 2017.

Some of the causes cited for the spillovers include power disturbances and failures, increased stormwater levels, and operator error.

According to the report, these wastewater spills can potentially cause ecosystem damage as well as adverse human health impacts due to high levels of dangerous fecal bacteria. Many beach closures have been enacted in the region as a result of some of these spills.

While certain shellfish and fishing areas have been closed down due to “general pollution concerns,” the authors of the report claim that no additional impact to those shellfish resources along the King County shoreline occurred from one of the largest spills in years during the January 12th and 13th discharges which collectively released tens of millions of gallons of wastewater into the marine ecosystems.

The report also claims that these discharges did not cause any long-term ecological damage.

Upgrade recommendations in the report estimate the costs of improving the facilities to cost more than $70 million collectively with increased ongoing maintenance costs as well.

“This is a good step forward to implementing the needed changes to care for our region’s waters, including the Puget Sound,” said King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn, who sponsored the report. “It’s important that King County acts as a good steward by taking the steps necessary to prevent wastewater spills, which have been all too common.”


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Courtesy Photo, King County
Man, 21, receives 25 years in prison for 2022 fatal Kent shooting

Dijion Ray Taylor-Johnson gets reduced sentence after pleading guilty to apartment shooting

(Courtesy of the Seattle Police Department)
Four teens arrested after multi-city crime spree in King County

The targets of the majority of these robberies were gas stations and late-night fast-food restaurants, according to court documents.

Donald Cook. COURTESY PHOTO
Ongoing Kent School Board drama flares up again among members

Board rescinds controversial resolution that singled out Donald Cook

t
Kent-based Project Feast hires new executive director

Liz Louie to lead nonprofit that empowers refugee and immigrant cooks

King County Sheriff’s Office new Bell 407GXi Helicopter. Photo courtesy of Angela Van Liew, King County Sheriff’s Office
King County Sheriff’s Office gets new helicopter

It was purchased with the support of King County taxpayers.

t
Kent Youth and Family Services hires new executive director

Trista Helvey takes over after more than a decade with YMCA of Greater Seattle

t
Kent City Council approves $11.2 million purchase of new office space

Buying north Kent building will open up Centennial Center for City Hall, police headquarters

File Photo
Kent Police arrest woman, 29, for stabbing, injuring 42-year-old man

Officers track down woman Oct. 7 four days after incident at man’s East Hill home

t
Kent Police Blotter: Sept. 24 to Oct. 6

Incidents include market arson, shots fired, cars on fire, tow truck driver attack, robberies

t
Wrong-way driver on I-5 off ramp near Kent faces assault, DUI charges

Friday night, Oct. 4 crash near South 272nd Street injures two

t
Meeker Street bridge in Kent expected to reopen by Oct. 11 after repainting

The $2.71 million project had an initial deadline of Sept. 29; deck repairs pushed out to next year