
How to report sewer odor complaints
King County is committed to odor control.
However, we cannot guarantee that there will be no odors in our existing system.
Occasionally, equipment will need to be shut down for clean up, preventive maintenance, or repairs. Please call the odor hotline if you experience odors and we will do everything we can to restore our high level of odor control.
Tips for reporting odors
- Try to locate the source of the odor. Odors could be coming from local sewers or King County’s system. Many King County sewer maintenance holes have "METRO" on the lid.
- Report the odor as soon as possible. Give the location and the time it occurred. This information will help locate the odor and aid in the investigation.
- For odors occurring in homes, businesses, and local sewer pipes and storm drains, call your local sewer agency. The number to your local agency can be found in your sewer bill.
- For odors that can't be specifically located, call the closest King County treatment plant's odor control hotline for assistance.
King County wastewater odor control hotline
Contact us
Brightwater Treatment Plant
(includes influent pump station at North Creek Parkway & Northeast 19th Street, Bothell)
24-hour odor control hotline:
206-263-9500
24-hour odor control hotline:
206-263-3801
South Treatment Plant
(includes Carnation and Vashon plants)
24-hour odor control hotline:
206-263-1760
Other agency contacts
Puget Sound Clean Air Agency:
206-343-8800
To identify and contact your local sewer agency, check your sewer bill.
Blog: Clean water stories
What’s that smell? Controlling & reporting odors, May 13, 2021
The nose shouldn’t know you live near South Treatment Plant. But if you smell something, we’re all ears, April 19, 2018
The Smell of Summer, August 3, 2016