For more information about Resource Recovery, please send us an email message or contact us at:
King County Wastewater Treatment Division Resource Recovery 201 S. Jackson Street Mail Stop: KSC-NR-0512 Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206-684-1247 Fax: 206-684-2057
What is Reclaimed Water
used for?
There's a good use for every drop! In many parts of the world, reclaimed water is used to keep crops, sports fields and golf courses green! It's also used to invigorate degraded habitat and replenish low stream flows. Manufacturing facilities use reclaimed water for heating and cooling processes. Municipalities use reclaimed water for street sweeping and landscaping. Learn more about the uses of reclaimed water, locally and across the nation.
Reclaimed Water around
the nation
Reclaimed water usage is sweeping the nation! The purple states shown on this map are united by adopting regulatory guidelines for the beneficial reuse of reclaimed water. In Hawaii, it's being used for keeping golf courses green. In California, it's being used for flushing toilets. In Nevada, it's being used to expand wetland habitat. In Florida, it's being used to grow oranges. Learn more.
Why does King County use Reclaimed Water?
Since 1997, King County uses an average of 330 million gallons of Class A reclaimed water every year at our wastewater treatment plants to reduce reliance on potable water sources for non-potable uses. South Treatment Plant in Renton diverts Class A reclaimed water to a purple hydrant in Tukwila where it is accessed by municipal street sweepers and landscape watering vehicles. Reclaimed water is also used to irrigate local sports fields and golf courses. These non-potable uses of reclaimed water help us reduce the amount of effluent we discharge into Puget Sound. Learn more.
Reclaimed Water research in King County
Local scientists and researchers from the University of Washington have studied our locally produced Class A reclaimed water to test the safety, quality and feasibility of using it to irrigate edible and ornamental crops and turf grass. Studies also monitored the fate and transport of any residual nutrients, pathogens, metals, pharmaceuticals and chemicals from personal care products on the plants and soils receiving reclaimed water. Thanks in part to the initial quality of our water and the effective filtering and disinfecting technologies used in our treatment facilities, these studies are providing evidence to alleviate many concerns. Learn more.
Reclaimed Water contributes to wetland habitat
King County produces Class A reclaimed water, which is safe for irrigating turf grass and food crops, and suitable for industrial and environmental enhancement purposes. Learn more.
