Summary

Dec. 5 update: The beach and waters near West Point at Discovery Park have been re-opened to the public after two consecutive days of water quality testing showed safe results. The beach was closed out of an abundance of caution on Dec. 2 following a brief bypass at the West Point Treatment Plant, and testing confirmed that the water is safe.

Story

The beach and waters near West Point at Discovery Park have been re-opened to the public after two consecutive days of water quality testing showed safe results. The beach was closed out of an abundance of caution on Dec. 2 following a brief bypass at the West Point Treatment Plant, and testing confirmed that the water is safe.

Dec. 2, 2020
Brief wastewater bypass occurs during routine equipment testing at West Point

Normal wastewater treatment operations were swiftly restored early Wednesday morning, December 2, after an operator error during routine testing caused an emergency bypass gate to open slightly for three minutes. 

The overflow at the West Point Treatment Plant happened shortly after 1 a.m. and is estimated at 17,000 gallons.
  
The Wastewater Treatment Division is investigating the incident this morning. Out of an abundance of caution, the beach at West Point in Discovery Park was temporarily closed pending water quality results. King County employees were in the field Wednesday morning to collect water samples and post signs in the vicinity of the outfall pipe. The brief bypass was reported to health and regulatory agencies. 

RELEVANT LINKS
• King County’s West Point Treatment Plant

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Marie Fiore, 206-263-0284 or mfiore@kingcounty.gov

About the King County Wastewater Treatment Division
King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division protects public health and enhances the environment by collecting and treating wastewater while recycling valuable resources for the Puget Sound region. The division provides wastewater treatment services to 17 cities, 17 local sewer districts and more than 1.8 million residents across a 420-square-mile area in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties.