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Incident response
Wastewater Treatment Division staff are prepared to respond to a variety of complaints and incidents related to the regional wastewater conveyance and treatment system including addressing odor complaints, sewer spills, storm-related problems and other incidents.
Incident response notifications
No incidents posted at this time.
Past incident response notifications
Jan. 8, 2025
Beach closure lifted at Cove Park
King County conducted water sampling on Sunday and Monday. Public Health – Seattle & King County determined that there is low risk of people getting sick and lifted the beach closure at Cove Park Tuesday afternoon. This is the final update for this overflow event.
Jan. 6, 2025
King County crews respond to overflow in West Seattle due to electrical issue
A King County wastewater operator quickly stopped an overflow at a pump station due to an electrical issue on Jan. 5.
The King County Wastewater Treatment Division responded to an overflow at the Barton Street Pump Station in West Seattle on Sunday, Jan. 5.
At around 12:50 p.m., the pump station located in the 9000 block of Fauntleroy Way SW, just north of the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal, overflowed after equipment inside the facility experienced an electrical issue. A King County wastewater operator reset the pumps and restored the pump station to normal operations. The overflow lasted approximately three minutes.
King County notified the Washington State Department of Ecology and Public Health - Seattle & King County on Sunday.
Because combined flow of stormwater and sewer was released into Puget Sound through an emergency outfall, King County is working with Public Health to monitor water quality in the area. King County posted closure signage at Cove Park on Monday. The beach at Cove Park is expected to be closed until water quality testing indicates it is safe. The public is urged to avoid contact with the water until the signage is removed.
King County’s priority is to protect public health and the environment.
Heathfield Pump Station Wastewater Overflow Response
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On August 15, 2024, crews were conducting maintenance at the Heathfield Pump Station in Bellevue. During the maintenance work, a check valve suddenly closed and caused over pressurization and rupture of one of two force main pipes, sending wastewater into Squibbs Creek (also known as Vasa Creek) and Lake Sammamish. (A force main is a pressurized sewer pipe that typically uses pump(s) to move wastewater uphill.)
The following is a summary of our response activities to date. We will continue to keep the community, jurisdictions, and agencies up to date.
Current status
Pipe repair and condition inspection
Initial inspection of the ruptured force main pipe started on Thursday, Aug. 22, and will continue in the coming days. We have determined that about 100 feet of additional pipe near the pump station needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
King County’s contractor will mobilize a construction crew at the pump station property as early as Monday, Aug. 26, to begin this work.
This phase of the repair work is expected to take 2-3 weeks.
Read the August 23 Update for more information.
Notifications
- Heathfield Pump Station Wastewater Overflow Response in Bellevue, August 23
- Heathfield Pump Station Wastewater Overflow Response in Bellevue, August 22
- Heathfield Pump Station Wastewater Overflow Response in Bellevue, August 20
- Heathfield Pump Station Wastewater Overflow Response in Bellevue, August 17