Projects and results   

Projects completed since 2001 have resulted in annual savings of more than 43 million gallons of water and $472,000 in water and sewer costs for regional public service organizations.

• King County Correctional Facility-Saving 9 million gallons and $120,000 a year
• Seattle & King County Public Health Facilities-Saving 1 million gallons and $2,000 a year
• Harborview Medical Center-Saving 5 million gallons and $60,000 a year
• Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center-Saving 2 million gallons and $7,000 a year
• Nonprofit Organizations-Saving 638,000 gallons and $7,300 a year
• Public Housing Retrofits-Saving 9 million gallons and more than $100,000 a year
• King County Facilities-Saving 16 million gallons and $200,000 a year
• King County Animal Shelters-Saving 200,000 gallons and $1,000 year
• King County Department of Youth Services-Saving 750,000 gallons and $9,000 a year

King County Correctional Facility

The King County Correctional Facility houses an average of 2,300 inmates a day who use about 33 million gallons of water a year in showers alone! In partnership with Seattle Public Utilities, King County is replacing more than 50 percent of the old, inefficient showers with new low-flow shower valves. The retrofits are expected to save our region more than 9 million gallons water a year and save King County government $120,000 a year in water and sewer costs.

Seattle & King County Public Health Facilities

The White Center, Auburn and Renton health facilities serve hundreds of people every day, providing family planning; the Women Infants and Children (WIC) Program; maternity, immunization, and Medicaid services; and various other health programs to families in our region. Many toilets and faucets in these facilities have not been upgraded for more than 40 years, wasting gallons of water with every use. The planned plumbing upgrades are expected to save more than 1 million gallons of water a year and lower water and sewer costs by more than $2,000.

Harborview Medical Center

In summer 2005, 11 new water-saving autoclaves, used for sterilizing medical instruments, were installed at Harborview Medical Center. Autoclaves run 24 hours a day and replacing leaking autoclaves is expected to save more than 5 million gallons and $60,000 a year.

>> back to top

Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center

The final phase of water-saving retrofits were installed at this world class aquatic center in 2005. Fourteen low-flow showers were the last of 83 water-saving fixtures that were installed since 2003. More than 500,000 people use this facility every year, and water savings from the upgraded toilets, urinals, faucets and showers are expected to exceed 2.25 million gallons a year and more than $7,000 in annual water and sewer costs.

Efficient toilets, urinals and showers save 2 million gallons a year

Nonprofits--The Millionair Club and Compass Center

In 2003 washing machines at the Millionair Club and Compass Center were replaced with new energy and water saving models. These upgrades are expected to collectively save these nonprofits $7,000 a year in utility costs and more than 600,000 gallons of water a year. Both centers serve homeless and low income populations in our region-focusing on health, employment, housing and counseling.

>> back to top

Public Housing Retrofits

In 2001, the Water Conservation Program partnered with the Saving Water Partnership, the King County Housing Authority (KCHA) and King County's Housing Repair Program--to replace inefficient washing machines and upgrade toilets, showerheads and aerators in moderate- to low-income housing communities.

The housing authority and the Housing Repairs Program both work with single and multifamily housing outside Seattle, ensuring that safe, healthy and environmentally sustainable housing is available to all residents in King County. Together, these projects have saved more than 9 million gallons of water a year since 2002. They have significantly reduced utility costs for moderate- to low-income homeowners and the housing authority.

King County Facility Retrofits

In partnership with Seattle Public Utilities, water saving retrofits were completed in 2002 for the King County Courthouse and Administration and Yesler buildings. A water-efficient cooling system replacement and toilet, urinal and faucet retrofits are saving 24 million gallons of water a year and save King County more than $250,000 a year in operating costs.

>> back to top

King County Animal Services

The Kent and Bellevue animal shelters use water every day for cleaning linens and dishes used to care for the 10,000 pets they look after every year. Installing a water-saving dishwasher and several water-efficient washing machines will collectively save 190,000 gallons of water a year and $1,000 a year in water and sewer costs a year.

King County Department of Youth Services

In 2004, water-efficient washing machines were installed, and toilets, urinals and faucets were retrofitted at the Department of Youth Services. The department provides medical and mental health intervention, detention placement, special needs assessment and education assistance for youth detained at the Youth Services Center. Upgraded plumbing fixtures are saving 700,000 gallons of water a year and more than $9,000 a year in water and sewer costs.