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January 2026
Read this email in Spanish: Leer este correo electrónico en Español
King County is planning a big upgrade to part of our regional sewer pipe. The pipe helps serve the growing Black Diamond’s growing community. The Black Diamond Sewer Upgrade Project will add space in our sewer system. We will upgrade 6 miles of pipe between Black Diamond and Covington.
Your input matters!
In 2025, our project team talked with over 1,600 people. We did this by:
- Visiting neighbors and sharing fliers and postcards.
- Attending 4 summer fairs and festivals.
- Interviewing leaders from 6 local schools.
- Receiving 80 online survey responses.
What we heard
People told us the following related to the project:
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Traffic and construction are top concerns:
- People said traffic is their biggest concern.
- Many people asked how long construction will take.
- People said being able to reach their homes and businesses during construction is important
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Roads with existing safety concerns:
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Covington Sawyer Road: Traffic backs up near schools and neighborhoods create safety concerns.
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Timberlane Way Southeast and Timberlane Drive: People worry about accidents on these busy roads.
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216th Avenue Southeast and Southeast 272nd Street: People said these roads are busy and feel "dangerous".
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Other community wastewater priorities:
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Public health: People said that keeping our communities healthy is most important. We help do this by collecting and cleaning wastewater.
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Water quality: People’s want clean rivers, lakes, streams, and the Puget Sound. We help with this by keeping untreated wastewater in our sewer system.
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Preventing sewer failures: People want to prevent sewer failures. We help do this by upgrading aging pipes and systems. We also regularly repair and upkeep our system.
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How people want to learn about the project:
- Most people want email updates.
- People want clear and frequent information.
- People want to learn more about project costs, odor control, and sewer connection options.
We will use your 2025 feedback to help plan next steps. It will inform project design, traffic planning, and outreach in 2026 and beyond.
What’s happening in 2026?
In 2026 we will keep working on the project design. Additionally, we will:
- Bring a contractor onto the team. They will help inform design and future construction.
- Share detailed plans for pipe construction.
- Apply for permits.
- Complete an environmental review.
- Study soil and underground conditions. This helps us learn more about the project area.
- Share updates before any field work begins.
You can expect more updates in the coming months. We will share information about design and construction. As the design moves forward, we will continue to ask for your ideas.
Thank you so much for your participation!
EPA approves $65 million loan for Black Diamond Sewer Upgrade
In December, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved a $65 million loan for this sewer upgrade project. This is through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA). This low-interest loan will save King County about $11 million over the life of the loan. These savings help upgrade important pipes and systems while using ratepayer dollars responsibly.
Talk to us!
For more information or to schedule a meeting, please:
ALTERNATE FORMATS AVAILABLE – 206-477-5371 OR TTY RELAY: 711
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