King County permits (NPDES, reclaimed water) for treating and conveying water resources and compliance recognition

Ecology administers NPDES permits under authority delegated to the department by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These permits outline the conditions under which King County can discharge treated wastewater.

Note: If the permit links below do not work, then go to the water quality permitting and reporting information system on the Department of Ecology website and enter the plant name or permit number.

Brightwater Treatment Plant: WA0032247 expires February 28, 2023

• Facility summary
• Permit 
• Fact sheet 

South Treatment Plant: WA0029581, expires July 31, 2020

• Facility summary
• Permit 
• Fact sheet 

West Point Treatment Plant: WA0029181, expires January 1, 2020

• Facility summary
• Permit 
• Fact sheet 

Carnation Treatment Plant: WA0032182, expires December 31, 2018

• Facility summary
• Permit (includes reclaimed water) 
• Fact sheet 

Vashon Treatment Plant: WA0022527, expires Feb. 28, 2022

• Facility summary
• Permit 
• Fact sheet 
• Note: the Beulah Park wastewater treatment system, located on Vashon Island, is a large on-site sewage system (LOSS) and operates under a permit from the State Department of Health, permit # KIN005 . This permit is renewed on an annual basis in October of each year.

Learn more about reclaimed water .

Note: if the permit links below do not work, then go to the water quality permitting and reporting information system  on the Department of Ecology website and enter the plant name or permit number.

Brightwater Treatment Plant: ST0045498, expires July 31, 2016

• Permit  
• Fact sheet 

South Treatment Plant: ST7445, expires Oct. 31, 2014
Note: Ecology has administratively extended permit ST-7445 until a new permit is issued

• Permit 
• Fact sheet 

Carnation Treatment Plant: expires Dec 31, 2018

• Combined with NPDES permit above

National Association of Clean Water Agencies' (NACWA) Peak Performance Awards program  recognizes NACWA member agency facilities for excellence in wastewater treatment as measured by their compliance with their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits.

• South Treatment Plant: Platinum 19
• West Point Treatment Plant: Platinum 16
• Brightwater Treatment Plant: Gold
• Carnation Treatment Plant: Platinum 5 
• Vashon Treatment Plant: Platinum 6

Note: also covered under these permits is the industrial pretreatment program administered by King County. That program is responsible for approving permits for discharges of industrial waste into the sewer system and the management and enforcement of such permits.