Clean Water Plan

Visit the project library for public engagement materials, plan documents and resources.

Over the next few decades our region will collectively spend billions of dollars on protecting water quality. King County needs to update its wastewater plan so that we make the right investments at the right time for the best water quality outcomes. We feel strongly that when the County hears from everyone, we all benefit.

The Clean Water Plan will outline WTD’s future and address broader water quality concerns. We are facing a number of complicated issues, including:

• Serving a growing population
• A changing climate resulting in more extreme weather events
• Further reducing the amount of untreated sewage and polluted stormwater that overflows into local water bodies during storms
• Maintaining our 50-year old system of wastewater pipes, pumps, and treatment facilities  
• Better coordination of water quality investments to get the best outcomes for human health, habitat, and wildlife
• Ensuring benefits of water quality investments are distributed equitably
• Making treatment facilities more resilient to storm and earthquake risks
• How to finance water quality improvements
• And more

We are committed to a fair and inclusive planning process. To do this, we will aim to break down barriers to involvement and hear from all kinds of people — including long-time participants in water quality discussions and new, interested parties. The County is committed to including the voices of historically underrepresented populations including native peoples, communities of color, immigrant and refugee communities, limited English-speaking communities, low-income populations and people with disabilities.

We will use people’s input to develop a plan that helps guide future actions around water quality. We will share what we hear with the King County Executive and Council who are responsible for making final decisions.