New Electronic Reporting System coming soon for Significant Industrial Users
The King County Industrial Waste Program (KCIW) will launch a new Electronic Reporting System to receive required documents from Significant Industrial Users or SIUs. The new system meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Rule (CROMERR). SIUs will use the new system to submit required documents they currently send to KCIW via email. Submitting by email will not meet the federal rule.
To use this new system, an authorized representative of your facility must complete identity verification. Then your representative can set up an account to log in.
Transitioning to the new reporting systems allows KCIW to:
- Comply with federal electronic reporting rules
- Support your EPA compliance reporting
- Collect signatures electronically
- Ensure secure record keeping
Get ready to use the new system!
The new system will be available this fall. Here is what you can do now to prepare:
- Keep your original, wet ink signed copies of all submittals onsite for at least three years from the date of submission, and present them upon request.
- Continue using email to submit documents until KCIW notifies you that the new Electronic Reporting System is available.
- Understand the timelines for using the new reporting system.
When KCIW launch the new system, you can use the technical assistance and educational materials we will provide to learn more about it.
Once the new reporting system is available, KCIW will no longer accept email submittals from SIUs with attached documents that require a signature.
Contact us with any questions about these upcoming changes or current reporting requirements. You can reach us by email at info.kciw@kingcounty.gov or phone at 206-477-5300.
KCIW celebrates 2025 compliance award winners
Each spring, KCIW recognizes SIUs for maintaining an excellent compliance record during the previous year. SIUs may earn Gold or Silver awards based on their level of compliance. Companies that receive five consecutive Gold Awards earn the Commitment-to-Compliance Award.
Congratulations to National Products Inc. in Seattle for winning the 2025 Commitment-to-Compliance Award!
Additionally, congratulations to the 26 Gold Award winners and 21 Silver Award winners!
Thank you for your commitment to protecting public health and the environment.
KCIW Annual Pretreatment Report now available
The KCIW 2025 Annual Pretreatment Report summarizes the program’s achievements from 2025. It includes KCIW’s efforts in operations, special projects, activities, and public outreach.
Read the highlights from 2025:
KCIW septage sampling at South Treatment Plant protects public health and water quality
KCIW is sampling hauled waste more often at our septage disposal facility at South Treatment Plant in Renton.
More sampling allows KCIW to:
- Collect more samples for pollutants.
- More easily identify trucked loads that may harm the plant’s infrastructure or microorganisms in the wastewater treatment process.
- Share better data to inform the King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s policy and infrastructure planning.
KCIW’s sampling work is part of our ongoing commitment to protect public health, preserve water quality, and ensure compliance with local, state, and federal environmental regulations.
 A KCIW inspector wearing personal protective equipment collects a septage waste sample, using a long‑handled cup to gather material from the truck’s discharge pipe before it enters the treatment facility.
New poster available to report spills faster
Reporting spills is one of the most important ways industrial users help protect our local wastewater system. Even small spills can harm pipes, workers, and the environment if they are not handled quickly. When a spill happens, please report it right away.
Industrial users can contact KCIW Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. If a spill happens after hours, please call your local wastewater treatment plant for help. Prompt reporting helps prevent damage and keeps our community safe.
To make spill reporting easier, KCIW now offers an updated spill poster. If you would like one for your facility, please contact KCIW at info.kciw@kingcounty.gov or call 206-477-5300.
Enforcement actions: 2025 violators notice
KCIW publishes a violators advertisement every spring in The Seattle Times. These violators did not comply with their permit or federal, state, and local regulations. The advertisement lists the non-compliant industrial users and related enforcement actions.
For more information about companies who violated King County wastewater rules, please check out our website:
More visits and inspections planned for permitted facilities
If your business has a KCIW permit, you may notice more visits from your KCIW compliance investigator . KCIW is increasing in-person inspections and field visits at many of our permitted facilities. In addition to annual SIU compliance inspections, investigators may also make unannounced visits during normal operating hours.
These visits are an opportunity to work together to identify and resolve minor issues before they become permit violations. Our compliance investigators can also answer questions about your permit and your self-monitoring requirements and meet new staff members.
We value our partnership with permitted facilities and are committed to helping businesses maintain compliance to protect our regional wastewater system.
Comprehensive Industrial User Survey update
KCIW launched the 2025 Industrial User Survey last fall. We received 2,368 responses through the end of April. Most responses were in English. We also received surveys in Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish.
What’s next?
- In the coming months, KCIW will analyze survey responses and follow up with businesses that may need permits or more support. It will help industrial users stay in compliance.
- The survey will stay open until August 31, 2026.
- For survey questions, please contact KCIW by phone 206-477-5300 or email info.kciw@kingcounty.gov
Survey responses help KCIW better understand industrial wastewater in our region and identify industrial users that are not currently permitted.
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