King County has been recycling water since 1997

The county's Wastewater Treatment Division has been safely using reclaimed water since 1997 for onsite industrial processes and landscape irrigation at its regional treatment plants in Seattle and Renton, as well as for irrigation at sports fields at Fort Dent Park, Tukwila. The new treatment plant in Carnation will create reclaimed water for wetland enhancement in the Chinook Bend Natural Area near the Snoqualmie River. The Brightwater Treatment Plant, currently under construction, will bring reclaimed water south from the plant near Woodinville through Bothell to the Sammamish Valley.

King County's existing reclaimed water program is underway. It will continue while the comprehensive plan is being developed. Once the comprehensive plan is adopted, the existing program will be modified as necessary to be consistent with the new plan.

Existing treatment plants

South Treatment Plant, Renton - 71 million gallons a year are used for on-site processes and as an irrigation source for nearby sports fields at Fort Dent Park (external link), a wetland plant nursery and habitat restoration efforts. More about South Plant.

West Point Treatment Plant, Seattle - 188 million gallons a year are used for on-site processes. More about West Point.

Carnation Treatment Plant, Carnation - reclaimed water is being used for wetland enhancement at Chinook Bend Natural Area next to the Snoqualmie River. More information about this project.

Treatment plant under construction

Brightwater Treatment Plant, north of Woodinville - a reclaimed water pipe will bring reclaimed water to areas in north King County, south Snohomish County and the Sammamish Valley after 2011. More information about this project.

Future opportunities

There may be opportunities elsewhere in King County to create reclaimed water along larger influent and effluent pipelines. View map of Potential Reclaimed Water Users (August 2006, PDF, 856KB).