King County crews quickly stop equipment malfunction that led to wastewater-stormwater bypass from Richmond Beach pump station

December 28, 2022

Summary

An equipment malfunction at King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s Richmond Beach Pump Station in Shoreline was quickly repaired by responding workers Tuesday.

Story

Crews were able to quickly reset a malfunctioning pump at King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s Richmond Beach Pump Station in Shoreline that resulted in intermittent discharges of wastewater mixed with stormwater into Puget Sound on Tuesday. 
 
The malfunction of pump equipment that help send wastewater and stormwater to a treatment plant led to the release of an estimated 250,000 gallons of wastewater and stormwater through the station’s bypass pipe, located 1,600 feet offshore and at a depth of 200 feet in Puget Sound.  

The pump station – located just south of Point Wells in Shoreline – is now fully operational. 
 
King County notified health and regulatory agencies, is monitoring water quality, and is posting signs warning people to avoid contact with the water over the next several days as a precaution. 
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:  
Doug Williams, Department of Natural Resources and Parks, 206-477-4543