Crossposted from Clean Water Stories  Operating a regional wastewater utility requires more than a dedicated workforce and highly specialized equipment. It also takes money, especially when it comes to funding new facilities to make sure our system keeps pace with population growth.  Just like you might borrow money to invest in a new home, or remodel a kitchen, we borrow money to build new facilities, or to upgrade or expand our system, by issuing bonds.  Read more at Clean Water Stories

Crossposted from Public Health Insider  Smileys on restaurants and signage on clinics Saying “you’re welcome” to all who come in it Kicking off Best Starts with com-mun-ities These are a few 2017 things!  Spray parks and hygiene and tales made of doodles Noro in oysters And phthalates in noodles Wild bats that fly and may carry rabies These are a few 2017 things!  Read more at Public Health Insider

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC  The holidays are a fun and festive time for everyone, including our pets. However, that good cheer could be ruined if your cat or dog ends up sick, missing, or worse. To help keep this the most wonderful time of the year, Regional Animal Services is pleased to offer the following tips adapted from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).  Keep people food away from your pet, especially candy and chocolate, and ask your holiday guests to do the same. If you suspect your dog or cat has gotten… Read More

Crossposted from Public Health Insider  Last year, 14,373 people died in King County. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office (MEO) investigated those deaths that were sudden, unexpected or unnatural – 2,494* in total.  But, the count of life lost is more than a number. By tracking and analyzing different manners of death as well as trends in homicides, traffic fatalities, and drug overdose deaths, we are able to develop preventative measures and learn about emerging issues.  Here are some key findings from 2016, as illustrated in the MEO’s recently published annual report, and… Read More

Preliminary work is about to get underway on planned upgrades to an aging and undersized regional sewer line that is a critical part of King County’s clean-water infrastructure in Bellevue and Newcastle.  While construction on the Coal Creek Trunk sewer upgrade isn’t expected to begin until 2021, crews will begin drilling test holes in early January near Coal Creek Parkway to help determine soil conditions along the new line’s recommended alignment.  Starting Jan. 4, crews will perform two to four days of test drilling per week at five locations along Coal Creek Parkway.  The… Read More

Crossposted from Go, Green Team!  Easy ways to help the environment are to compost your food waste and not waste food. On average, Americans waste about 25 percent of all food and drinks we buy. That’s not only wasting food, that’s wasted money – $130 every month. By helping prevent food waste, you are also saving water, energy and fuel that are all used to produce, package, and transport food.  Learn more at Food: Too Good to Waste.  Recently, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) did studies in three cities- Denver, New York and Nashville… Read More

Crossposted from Inside Transportation  King County Executive Dow Constantine is accelerating the transition to zero-emissions transportation by making one of the largest bus fleets in the US all-electric by as early as 2034. Under his leadership, and that of DOT Director Harold Taniguchi and Metro General Manager Rob Gannon, Metro is not only upgrading its fleet to battery-powered buses, we’re demonstrating that there is strong market demand for the new generation of cleaner, quieter buses that can help King County confront climate change.  In January, Executive Constantine announced Metro’s commitment to purchase 120 battery-electric buses… Read More