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Big improvements are taking shape at Brightwater Treatment Plant (Brightwater)! We’re installing more efficient membrane filters that take up less space. Replacing the old filters will help us treat more wastewater as our region grows.
Look behind the scenes with one of Brightwater's operators!
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Brightwater’s people and equipment work around the clock. Learn about the people and systems who treat wastewater in your community. Discover how Brightwater helps protect public health and the environment in this video. Tour the plant, walk the trails, or visit the Education Center to find out more!
 This video includes options to turn on captions in English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and Vietnamese. It is also available with American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation.
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We enjoyed talking with 75 people at the Woodinville Farmer's Market on Saturday, July 4. Community members from near and far visited our table to learn about a variety of topics including:
WTD staff hosted a table at the Woodinville Farmer’s Market in July. We talked with community members about Brightwater and our regional wastewater treatment system.
Do you want us to meet with your community group or organization?
Is there a community event you think we should be at?
Email us at Brightwater@kingcounty.gov. We’d love to chat more!
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For nearly 50 years, WTD has turned biosolids into a resource that benefits farms and forests. Now that legacy is growing.
A new pilot program based out of South Treatment Plant brings Loop Compost to community gardens and nonprofit organizations. It's another example of how WTD continues finding innovative ways to recover resources while supporting healthier, more resilient communities.
We can use Loop Compost to:
- Enrich soils
- Grow healthy food
- Reduce stormwater runoff
For more information, read the news release and watch the video.
In June 2026, our teams installed four raised beds next to the Brightwater Center classrooms. Each garden bed has a different soil treatment. We will monitor soil quality over time and evaluate plant growth.
Staff shoveled soil and compost into the new garden beds outside the Brightwater Center classrooms:
The four garden beds at Brightwater the day they were planted in early June 2026:
These thriving flowers and leafy greens were treated with Loop Compost. This photo shows the plants in August 2026:
The photos below show the growth differences between compost and fertilized treatments:
 Left: Loop Compost mixed 1 to 1 by volume with soil. Right: Fertilizer plot with Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Sulfur.
To learn more about Loop Compost visit LoopForYourSoil.com/Loop-Compost.
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WTD is developing an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan. As we create it, we are asking for input. This survey asks about accessibility of our products, programs, services, and spaces. We will use the information shared to identify and prioritize steps to increase accessibility for everyone.
People of all abilities are welcome to take the survey. You do not have to identify as having a disability to provide a response.
We want to hear from people with disabilities. We also want to hear from their family, friends, and caregivers. Many people experience barriers to access, and accessibility improvements benefit everyone.
We welcome everyone who has experienced using our programs, services, and spaces to take the survey by September 30!
Take the survey at publicinput.com/WTD-ADA-Transition-Plan-Survey.
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We’re celebrating the women across WTD whose engineering backgrounds help protect public health, improve our environment, and keep our regional wastewater system running strong.
Meet seven remarkable women who share the mentors, lessons and experiences that shaped their careers. They also share advice for the next generation. Their stories are a reminder that great engineering shows up in many forms. We are grateful for the work they do every day to make a lasting difference for the people of King County.
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Before the 1960s, sewage flowed directly into local waterways. Fed up with the pollution, community members came together to invest in a regional wastewater treatment system! Today, we work 24/7 to clean more than 90 million gallons of wastewater every day, helping protect public health and Puget Sound.
 Left: Kids stand on the shoreline of a polluted Lake Washington in the 1950s. The sign reads "Warning Polluted Water Unsafe for Bathing." Credit: King County Wastewater Treatment Division.
Right: Adults stand on the shoreline of a clean Lake Washington after the creation of a regional wastewater treatment system. The sign reads "Welcome Clean Water Fishable and Swimmable." Credit: King County Wastewater Treatment Division.
West Point Treatment Plant in Seattle opened in 1966 and is celebrating 60 years in operations. South Treatment Plant in Renton celebrated its 60th birthday last year. And Brightwater Treatment Plant near Woodinville turns 15 years this year.
Digesters under construction in 2009 at the Brightwater Treatment Plant.
The Brightwater Treatment Plant and trails area today.
As we celebrate these milestones, we’re also looking ahead to the next 60 years and beyond. That means upgrading aging infrastructure so our region can continue to count on reliable wastewater treatment and clean water for generations to come.
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Sign up for The Bubbler newsletter to follow King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s latest news and updates on clean water investments. Get caught up by checking out the past issues, available on our website.
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Interpretation and translation services are available to you at no cost. If you need them, please contact Brightwater@kingcounty.gov or call 206-296-7432. Please leave a message with your phone number and language if you would like a call back.
Los servicios de interpretación y traducción disponibles para usted sin costo alguno. Si los necesita, comuníquese con Brightwater@kingcounty.gov o llame al 206-296-7432. Deje un mensaje de voz con su número de teléfono y su idioma si desea que le regresen la llamada.
免費為您提供口譯和筆譯服務。如果您需要這些服 務，請聯絡 Brightwater@kingcounty.gov.
免费为您提供口译和笔译服务。如果您需要这些服 务，请联络 Brightwater@kingcounty.gov.
Alternative Formats Available: 206-477-5371 or TTY Relay: 711
Formatos alternativos disponibles: 206-477-5371 o retransmisión TTY: 711
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