Things you can do to protect your environment

Besides learning about and commenting on wastewater projects, services and programs in your community, you can take other actions to protect public health and the environment. Below are links to information about things you can do to protect your home and family, the wastewater treatment process, and water quality.

Know Your Sewer System - Know Who to Call. Download this fact sheet (PDF) and record emergency contact numbers in case of a sewage overflow. The back side of this fact sheet includes information on keeping yourself safe during a flooding event or sewage overflow and helpful hints to prevent overflows.


Put used cleaning wipes, cloths and pads in the trash, NOT the toilet! (PDF)


Recipes for a Cleaner Backyard (PDF). Safe and simple household products means a healthier family and a cleaner Puget Sound.


King County Family Fun!. Resources, games, fun facts, tricks and tips to reduce your carbon footprint and green up your ride, home and garden.

Protecting water quality starts with you

• Don't trash the system. Putting trash in toilets and drains can clog our pipes and damage our pumping equipment.
• Let's talk trash -- protecting water quality starts with each of us.
• Get rid of stuff you don't want or need -- recommended methods
• Eliminating fats, oils and grease from our sewers
• Compost your kitchen scraps -- instead of putting them down drains or in the garbage.
• Dispose of household hazardous waste properly
• Think 'green' when you can. Choosing environmentally friendly, biodegradable household cleaning and personal care products minimizes the entry of harmful chemicals into the environment. Avoid washing your car on the street and consider using biosolids compost as a mulch and soil conditioner.
• Reduce your use of materials with potential endocrine disrupting chemicals
• Use less-hazardous household products
• Use a car wash kit to keep pollution out of our streams and Puget Sound
• Use biosolids compost as a mulch and soil conditioner on home gardens and lawns
• Disconnect. Too much water in the system creates overflows and pollutes the environment - disconnect downspouts from the sewer system and redirect them to lawns and gardens.
• Disconnect and reroute roof and yard drains that run into the sewer system
• Conserve. Conserving water reduces your monthly bill and prevents excess water from entering the system, so there's less to treat.
• Save on your water bills and conserve water by using a rain barrel
• Conserve water at home: Inside | Outside

More King County resources

• Sewer spill response
• Attend community events in the Duwamish area
• Understand your sewer rate and your wastewater capacity charge, if you have one
• Schedule a group tour of our wastewater treatment plants
• Invite a speaker to come and talk about water quality and wastewater treatment
• Enjoy a combination of art, nature and stormwater treatment at Waterworks Gardens
• Learn how to reduce household sewer odors
• Learn how to report sewer odors
• Stay informed about current wastewater treatment activities
• Arrange free student transportation for water quality field trips
• Check these environmental resources for students and teachers
• Report drainage and water quality problems.
• Septic education and care
• Be prepared to respond to emergencies in King County