Employees respond to overflow at West Point Treatment Plant

Wastewater operators at King County's West Point Treatment Plant quickly controlled a sewage overflow that occurred around 3:45 p.m.

It's estimated that about 410,000 gallons of wastewater flowed into Elliott Bay through an emergency marine outfall after an apparent mechanical failure caused a bypass gate to open.

Workers had been following high flow procedures to prevent flooding that could damage equipment and put workers at risk when the bypass gate partially opened. Once pressure in the line was controlled, workers were able to close the gate.

The overflow occurred for about 10 minutes. The incident is being investigated.

To protect public health, the county took water samples, posted beaches at West Point and Golden Gardens as closed, and notified health and regulatory agencies about overflow.

People enjoy clean water and a healthy environment because of King County's wastewater treatment program. The county’s Wastewater Treatment Division protects public health and water quality by serving 17 cities, 17 local sewer districts and more than 1.4 million residents in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. Formerly called Metro, the regional clean-water agency now operated by King County has been preventing water pollution for more than 40 years.

Related Information:

Wastewater Treatment Division

Puget Sound Marine Topics