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King Street Center
201 S. Jackson St., Suite 505
Seattle, WA 98104-3855
Phone: 206-684-1280
Fax: 206-684-1741
Telecommunication device for the deaf (TTY): 711

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Puget Sound shoreline next to the West Point Treatment Plant, Seattle

Barton CSO Control Project

To protect Puget Sound and public health, King County is identifying CSO control options for the Barton area.

July 21, 2010 Update

Learn about alternative means for CSO control in the Barton basinPublic Meeting - Thursday, August 5, 2010, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 9131 California Ave SW, Seattle
Learn about the Green Stormwater Infrastructure option for controlling combined sewer overflows in Barton Basin (PDF).

King County is continuing to take feedback on the three proposed alternatives for CSO control in the Barton basin. Summaries of public meetings held by King County in March can be found at meeting calendar page.

King County is working to protect public health and the environment by limiting untreated flows of stormwater and sewage to Puget Sound. Controlling CSOs in Barton, Murray, North Beach, and Magnolia is a priority because of their location near popular beaches.

Why are CSOs a problem at Barton?

Like many cities around the country (external link), the older parts of King County's wastewater system carry both wastewater and stormwater to the treatment plant. When heavy rains fill the pipes, excess stormwater and sewage flow directly into Puget Sound near the Barton Pump Station. These events, called combined sewer overflows, or CSOs, help to avoid sewer backups into homes and businesses and onto streets during storms, but they are a public health and environmental concern. When a CSO happens, about 90 percent of the overflow is stormwater and the rest is dilute sewage.

In 2008, King County reported that the Barton CSO facility has four overflows per year on average that discharge a total of four million gallons into Puget Sound off Fauntleroy.

King County's goal is to reduce the number of CSOs each year, with a long-term goal of no more than one untreated discharge per location per year on a long term average to meet state regulations.

Schedule

The county is currently evaluating alternative means for CSO control in each basin. View key milestones of the decision process.

How you can participate

  • Visit the CSO Control Program Web site to learn about King County's work to reduce combined sewer overflows
  • Attend public meetings to view presentations, ask questions, and provide feedback
  • Sign up for updates – You can join our listserv to get notices when community meetings and updates are posted for each basin
  • Give us your input – Learn about alternatives being developed for each basin and provide input

Contact us

Related information

Upgrades needed to Barton Street Pump Station
Barton Street Pump Station
Upgrading the Barton Street Pump Station will help alleviate some CSO volumes. King County has operated the Barton Street Pump Station and sewer facilities for more than 40 years. This pump station is no longer considered reliable. It lacks backup generators to keep the pumps working during power outages, and it has no odor control. If equipment fails, raw sewage could flow onto the beach and into Puget Sound. Moreover, capacity may be inadequate for future demand. Learn more about the Barton Street Pump Station Upgrade project.