Protecting Our Assets

Sonar inspections and closedcircuit cameras help inspection crews detect pipe deterioration.

It would cost about $20 billion to build King County's wastewater system from the ground up today, and the value of our facilities as they now stand is estimated at about $4 billion.

Naturally, we put a high priority on managing and maintaining our buildings, treatment plants, pump stations, manholes, pipelines, as well as the property surrounding them.

The county's Asset Management Program oversees inspection of the regional treatment system, repairing and replacing aging facilities and developing plans to address ongoing system issues.

One of our biggest ongoing asset management challenges is directly related to the age of the system – pipe corrosion. Investments in repairing and rehabilitating these aging pipes will help prevent system failures, overflows and costly emergency repairs.

Employees install coatings, linings and sealants to extend the life of our pipelines and equipment.