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Contacting the King County Industrial Waste Program:

Complete staff and program directory

The King County Industrial Waste Program
130 Nickerson Street, Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98109-1658
Phone: 206-263-3000 and TTY Relay: 711

Fax: 206-263-3001

E-mail: Info.KCIW@kingcounty.gov

LINK: map showing how to drive to our office

Industrial wastewater discharge approvals

Discharging wastewater from groundwater remediation sites to the King County sewage system

The King County Industrial Waste Program regulates wastewater discharges from groundwater remediation sites and requires discharge approvals. A King County Public Rule regulates discharge of groundwater to the sewer.

About groundwater remediation discharges: Land with contaminated groundwater may undergo a remediation process, which partly consists of pumping out the groundwater and treating it to remove contaminates. Then the treated water may be disposed of into the sewerage system.

Discharges during wet months: In order to be given permission to discharge to the sewer, those proposing discharges greater than 25,000 gallons per day (large-volume discharges) during the "wet months" (November through April) must show that it is not feasible to discharge to surface waters or to on-site subsurface infiltration systems.

Sewer charges: Where applicable, sewer charges will be levied to those discharging groundwater to the KC sewer system. Billing procedures update - see Other Fees on the KCIW Fees Internet page.

Discharges from petroleum-contaminated soils have the following limits:

Maximum Concentration Allowed in Discharges
Parameter mg/l (ppm) µg/l (ppb)
Benzene 0.07 70
Ethylbenzene 1.7 1700
Toluene 1.4 1400
Total xylene 2.2 2200