septicsmart
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
King County Wastewater Education Program
Established to educate the public on how daily decisions
affect water quality, the King County Community Services
group, in King County, Washington, serves as a liaison
between the county's Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD)
and residents, helping WTD protect public health and the
environment by:
• Informing and educating the public about WTD functions
and activities.
• Involving the community in decision making and
problem solving.
• Keeping WTD informed about community concerns and
issues.
• Fostering positive relationships with residents.
• Supporting WTD project teams to stay on schedule and
budget.
PROGRAM ELEMENTS
Wth an emphasis on water quality, conservation, and
environmental stewardship, the community services group's
outreach and education efforts include:
• Treatment plant tours with community members,
professional groups, university groups, and high school
students.
• Elementary and middle school field trips to treatment
plants and natural areas.
• Family programs.
• Summer camps.
• Teacher trainings.
• Community open house events.
• Volunteer and internship programs.
• Demonstration gardens housed on the grounds of two
treatment plants. The new demonstration gardens show
how the use of biosolids and reclaimed water, both
products of the wastewater treatment process.
GOALS & OBJECTIVES
The King County Wastewater Education Program
focuses on how small behavioral changes can
make a big impact on water quality and the
environment. The county's community services
group seeks to educate residents on:
• Methods to keep dangerous chemicals and
items out of wastewater.
• Green cleaning alternatives.
• Water conservation.
• Combined sewer systems.
• Storm runoff.
• Products produced from wastewater
treatment (biosolids, reclaimed wastewater,
etc.).
Additional objectives include increased awareness of
WTD's role in protecting public health and the
environment, as well as increased understanding of
WTD's mission, facilities, and operations in order to
build support for WTD rates, projects, facilities, and
Educational exhibit hall (Brightwater Environmental
Education Center) focusing on a wide range of water-
related issues, including water conservation, natural
water systems and watersheds, man-made water
systems (including septic systems), wastewater
treatment, global water issues, water and electricity, and
responsible choices for clean water.
Social media, websites, and print materials (newsletters,
fact sheets, and more).
www.epa.gov/septicsmart | page 1
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King County Wastewater Education Program
WTD tour guides lead groups through each of the plant processes,
beginning with preliminary treatment.
PROMOTION
In addition to the educational exhibit hall, the King County
community services group utilizes social media, press
releases, print collateral, an exhibit hall, demonstration
gardens, and its website to promote outreach activities.
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
Community Services managers recommend that other
organizations seeking to launch similar outreach and
education programs:
• Start small and phase in programming.
• Develop partnerships with non-profits and universities.
• Ask what problems need to be solved, then prioritize
their importance.
• Set realistic goals with available resources, as it is often
better to delve deeper into one issue or program than to
try and do everything.
PARTNERSHIPS
Partnerships with universities, non-profits, and government
agencies have been an important part of outreach efforts.
The University of Washington, Washington State University,
IslandWood (a non-profit education institution), and other
organizations regularly partner with the group for much of its
water-related education programming.
Thanks for
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Students grades 4-12 comment on their treatment plant tour
experiences.
"Dear Casey, Brian, Greg and the West Point
Treatment staff,
Thank you so much for giving us such a great tour.
My favorite things that you taught us were how clean
you can get the water, what not to dump down the
toilets, and about the biodiversity in a wetland.
Thanks!
Ley is"
RESULTS
Wth high attendance and significant public engagement, the results of the education program are overwhelmingly positive.
Residents report they were not only unaware of manmade water systems, but "surprised that they can make a big
difference in their water systems with small behavior changes and different choices."
For more information on the Brightwater Center, visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/brightwater-center.aspx.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE KING COUNTY
WASTEWATER EDUCATION PROGRAM:
Please contact Susan Tallarico, Brightwater Environmental Education Center Director, at
(206) 255-8663 orsusan.tallarico@kingcounty.gov.
King County
Department of
Natural Resources and Parks
Wastewater Treatment Division
www.epa.gov/septicsmart
EPA-832-F-12-040 I November 2012
v>EPA
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