West Point Treatment Plant		Renton Treatment Plant - photo by Ned Ahrens, King County

Where Does my Wastewater Go?

schmied©2009 all rights reserved

Your mission: Track where your wastewater goes from the moment you flush your toilet to the moment the treated wastewater is discharged into Puget Sound.

Starting Out: Ask your parents who your family pays their sewer bill to, or use the resources below. (Note Alderwood sewers go to King County!!!!)

• If King County treats your waste, select this service area map. The map shows the layout of the entire system. Follow the red pipelines near your house to the Treatment Plant, answering the questions in the report format shown below. Some notes:
• If you live east of Lake Forest Park, follow the pipeline down the Eastside of Lake Washington to the South Treatment Plant in Renton.
• If you live in Lake Forest Park (or west) follow the pipeline West and South to the West Point Treatment Plant in Seattle.
• If the City of Everett treats your waste:
  • Use the pamphlet: How is Wastewater Treated? ...wait for the download.
• If a Septic System treats your:
  • Call any local septic company (reference the Company name & Phone number). Ask where and what system the septic company dumps their wastewater into. Then continue to track the wastewater from that point on.
• If you live in an apartment:
  • go to the Main Office and ask who they pay for sewer charges then follow the directions for that system.

Assignment format: Use this format and your own words on this job.

Title: Where does my Wastewater Go?

A. Documentation/References - List at least two.

B. I Flush my toilet at: List your Address, City, County, State ……

1. My Wastewater takes this route to the Treatment Plant

a. b. c. d. etc..... Now list each major place where the wastewater travels.... from your house all the way to the Treatment plant. Be sure to list all big connection points etc.

2. Describe each step your wastewater goes through in the wastewater treatment process at the specific plant your water goes to.

a. b. c. d. etc..... Tell the name of each step, and briefly describe what happens in each step. Notes:

- King County treatment plant information

For South Plant use this Animated Plant tour. (wastewater treatment). Another, secondary resource, is the South plant process

For the West Point Treatment Plant use this Animated Plant tour

- City of Everett treatment plant information

Use the How is Wastewater Treated? pamphlet and describe both systems in your own words. Be sure to use the same format shown above.

3. Tell the exact geographic location where the wastewater is discharged into Puget Sound (or its tributaries).

You may need to go to the King County service area map or the City of Everett How is Wastewater Treated? pamphlet or another, more detailed, map to locate the information.

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© 2009 John Schmied all rights reserved