Christie True to head Wastewater Treatment Division

Selected for her extensive experience in both wastewater operations and major capital project management, Christie True today assumed her new role as director of King County's Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD).

True replaces retiring division director Don Theiler, who served in the position since 1997.

"Christie's long and successful history in the wastewater program, combined with her leadership and management skills, make her the ideal person to head the division," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "It is gratifying to be able to hire someone so capable from within the division who can help WTD maintain stability and continue to thrive as future challenges arise.

"I'd like to thank Don Theiler for his leadership of WTD during a remarkable decade," said Sims. "His contributions have been significant – including planning for the sewage treatment needed that will serve growth and protect regional water quality for decades to come and involving employees in an efficiency program that is improving our bond ratings and saving ratepayers money.

Christie True is a 22-year employee with King County, where she most recently served as the manager of the Wastewater Treatment Division's Major Capital Improvement Program. She has successfully overseen a $250 million annual budget that includes construction on the county's $1.62 billion Brightwater Treatment Plant.

True was recently named Local Official of the Year for 2006 by the National Association of Home Builders for her work on the Brightwater project.

People enjoy clean water and a healthy environment because of King County's wastewater treatment program. The county's Wastewater Treatment Division protects public health and water quality by serving 17 cities, 17 local sewer utilities and more than 1.4 million residents in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. Formerly called Metro, the regional clean-water agency now operated by King County has been preventing water pollution for more than 40 years.

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Note to editors and reporters: Visit the WTD Newsroom, a portal to information for the news media about the Wastewater Treatment Division, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks.