It’s a whale of a job replacing the membrane filters at Brightwater Treatment Plant
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories
What do whales and wastewater treatment have in common? A visit to Brightwater Treatment Plant in Woodinville explains it all.
Inside the wastewater treatment plant, giant baleen-like filters are on rare display as King County Wastewater Treatment Division staff begin replacing the plant’s 48 membrane-filtration modules. Brightwater’s state-of-the-art membrane filtration system filters out bacteria and viruses from wastewater – much like whale baleen – as a last step in cleaning water before it’s piped to Puget Sound.
This is the first time Brightwater is replacing its membrane modules since the plant came online in 2011 to serve various Eastside towns. The work will stretch for three years and won’t be replaced again for another 10 to 20 years. Read more.
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Employee notice about the KC Employee ID/ORCA pass
King County employee ORCA passes will automatically renew at the start of the new year and employees should disregard the expiration alert when tapping for use on transit.
For questions or concerns, please reach out to the Employee Transportation Program coordinator at ETP@kingcounty.gov.
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Annual Giving Drive: Reasons 11-13 to give
The Employee Giving Program provides thousands of ways to make a difference all through one program. During the Annual Giving Drive, King County employes have access to a wide breadth of different causes. We have spotlighted a number of organizations that represent this diversity of causes and missions. Organizations that are committed to keeping our regions natural ecosystems healthy and thriving. LGBTQ+ led organizations that create safe spaces and work for LGBTQ+ rights. Organizations that offer support and solutions for victims of domestic violence. Read more to learn about each nonprofit.
You can find more EGP participating nonprofit organizations online or in the 2023 King County EGP Nonprofit Giving Guide.
You can make your campaign pledge here. Pledge today!
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Andrew Cronholm helps drive Fleet as new Deputy Director
Crossposted from the DES Express
Earlier this month, Andrew Cronholm joined Fleet Services as Deputy Director. He started part time on Oct. 2 while transitioning from his role in the Office of Performance, Strategy, and Budget (PSB). He officially began full time in Fleet on Oct. 9. Read more.
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Going all the places: Celebrating the first year of the Free Youth Transit Pass at Metro
Crossposted from Metro Matters
With free fare for those 18 and under, youth have unlocked the freedom to Go All the Places, and Do All the Things!
We’re proud to share with you the positive response from youth and community, one year into Free Youth Transit Pass. Youth can ride for free by using a Youth ORCA card, showing a student ID, or just getting on board on transit systems across the region. Read more.
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King County receives federal grant to improve re-entry services for people being released from jail
The U.S. Department of Justice recently awarded the Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget’s Criminal Legal section a $1 million grant to contract for virtual re-entry services for people being released from King County jail and people returning to King County after being release from Washington State prisons. PSB’s Criminal Legal section will use the funding to procure and implement an electronic, 24/7/365 substance-use disorder (SUD) recovery system that offers immediate and interim SUD interventions specifically designed to address the unique needs of people involved in the criminal legal system. Interventions will include evidence based online interventions, coaching, and counseling. The platform will also include services by and for the African American population, medication management support, and partnerships with local providers who can support other re-entry-oriented critical needs, such as housing and employment.
The overall goal of the project is to decrease barriers to quality substance use disorder care and improve the lives of re-entering persons. The program will primarily seek to improve access to and completion of treatment, increase engagement in care for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) populations, to improve recovery and reduce King County jail bookings and Department of Corrections violations. King County intends to serve 500 people during the grant period.
To learn more, please reach out to Patty Noble-Desy.
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Information for King County employees on the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine
Crossposted from KC Balanced You
As we head into the fall and winter, the CDC has recommended that everyone six months and older, even if you have received the vaccine before, get the updated, recently released COVID-19 vaccine to protect against new strains of the virus. King County employees can access the vaccine at worksites, pharmacies, clinics, and community events.
Why do we need an updated COVID vaccine?
COVID-19 has not gone away, and local hospitalizations are on the rise. It is important to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community against COVID-19. According to Dr. Eric Chow, Seattle King County Public Health’s Chief of Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Immunization, “COVID-19 viruses change, and that makes it harder for our bodies to fight off new versions, or variants, even if you’ve had COVID-19 or been vaccinated previously. It’s harder for your body’s immune system to fight off variants that are different than the ones it’s fought before.” Read more.
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Local Services team members honored for decades of service
Crossposted from King County Local
Two members of the King County Local Services team recently received some much-deserved recognition for reaching impressive milestones in their public service careers.
Our own Bong Santo (Sto.) Domingo and john miller were honored by King County Executive Dow Constantine and the King County Council for their decades of service.
Bong, a Community Liaison, was recognized for his 45 years in public service, including the last 27 with King County.
john, who serves as our Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Team Manager, was honored for his 25 years. Read more.
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Fall 2023 natural disasters: How can you help
On Sept. 8, 2023, a shallow magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck near the town of Oukaïmedene in western Morocco. It was the largest earthquake to strike the area in a century. Sadly, thousands of people lost their lives, more injured, and the area suffered massive infrastructure damage. Survivors are receiving intensive medical care, and families need food, water, shelter, and help reuniting with loved ones.
Not too long after, catastrophic flooding struck eastern Libya on Sept. 10 and 11, 2023, because of heavy rains from Storm Daniel. Additionally, the storm caused major damage to infrastructure, including the collapse of two dams near the City of Derna. It is estimated that between 4,000 and 10,000 people have lost their lives, and thousands more have been impacted.
Whenever disaster strikes, King County employees want to help. In these moments, and year-round, communities and nonprofit service providers need both immediate and long-term support. Workplace giving dollars are incredibly valuable for these organizations to plan for the unexpected and invest in long-term services. You can help through the Employee Giving Program’s Annual Giving Drive. We have provided a list of Employee Giving Program organizations that are responding to the natural disasters. Learn more.
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Maui fires – Support disaster relief during the Annual Giving Drive
Crossposted from KC Employee Giving
During the first week of August, wildfires erupted in Maui. Spurred on by dangerous winds from Hurricane Dora, the fire spread quickly, wracking devastation across the island. The resulting fires became the most devastating natural disaster the state of Hawai’i has ever seen, with a death toll of over a hundred people, thousands of homes destroyed, and the almost-complete destruction of the historic town of Lāhainā.
Communities across the world mobilized in response to this crisis, from the national level down to the small, hardworking nonprofits. While immediate disaster relief is always critical, sustained support after the news cycle moves on is just as necessary.
The King County Employee Giving Program supports many nonprofits working on the ongoing disaster response to the Maui wildfires. Workplace giving dollars are incredibly valuable for these organizations to plan for the unexpected and invest in long-term services. Disaster preparedness and community resilience is key to withstanding natural disasters, and supporting organizations year-round allows them to do this work and be ready when the time comes. Read more.
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