Crossposted from Clean Water Stories  By Department of Natural Resources and Parks Director Christie True  Over its five decades of operation, the West Point Treatment Plant has been led with one mission: safeguarding our region’s water quality, natural resources, and public health. Over the course of its long span of service, this mission has largely been met.  During a relentless February rainstorm, when electrical and equipment failures led to flooding that damaged critical systems and temporarily reduced treatment capabilities, dedicated employees worked around the clock to restore normal operations. West Point is… Read More

King County Metro Transit today announced that Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587 – which represents about 4,100 Metro employees – has approved a three-year labor contract. The contract increases wages by 9 percent over three years, and includes key provisions that will help Metro recruit bus drivers to grow service, as well as improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of the transit system. Altogether, the wage and benefit increases, including an 8.2 percent increase in the county’s health care contributions over three years, add an estimated $80 million to $85 million to… Read More

Crossposted from Public Health Insider  How do you inspire youth to make a difference in their community through public service? Ngozi Oleru, Director of the Environmental Health Services Division (EHS), and Greg Wilson, an EHS Project Manager, addressed this question by exposing diverse students within target communities to new possible career paths and helping to empower new leaders in public health. The program is a step towards the recruitment of a future workforce that better reflects the community that Public Health – Seattle & King County serves.  This partnership with Cleveland High School,… Read More

Most people think of hazardous waste as radioactive chemicals or harmful medical materials but hazardous waste can actually be a lot of different things, including common household items. When it is time to get rid of waste like antifreeze, gasoline, and even some makeup or other everyday products, it can be difficult to understand what do to do with them. The King County Wastemobile, part of the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program, is here to help. Created in 1989, the Wastemobile helps collect and safely dispose of household waste. The first such program in the nation,… Read More

Crossposted from King County Healthy Incentives King County employees and community partners came together last week to celebrate the downtown Goat Hill Giving Garden. Attendees took a short break from their day to enjoy lavender lemonade made with lavender from the garden, pick up giveaways provided by LOOP Biosolids, learn about the history of the garden, and to hear firsthand reflections from Caroline Whalen, Whitney Abrams, Pike Market Senior Center, and many more. “We provide two meals to 150 people in the downtown area every day. That’s why it means so much to us… Read More