(The Center Square) – Seattle and King County have been penalized a combined $87,500 by the Washington State Department of Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for breaching the terms of their water quality permits and federal consent decree violations pertaining to sewer issues. Public utilities for the two jurisdictions say the issues will be addressed as more projects are completed.
The infractions took place throughout 2024. Seattle accrued a $35,000 fine for multiple sanitary sewer overflow events, and King County is facing a $52,500 penalty for issues at its wet weather treatment stations and other compliance shortcomings.
Penalty money will be split in half between the state Department of Ecology and the EPA. Payments specifically to the Department of Ecology will go into the state’s Coastal Protection Fund, which provides grants to public agencies and tribes for water quality restoration projects…