King County Wastewater Systemwide Comprehensive Plan

King County Wastewater Systemwide Comprehensive Plan

Creating a community-centered plan to invest billions in improving water quality and health

Creating a community-centered plan to invest billions in improving water quality and health

Location:

King County, WA

Client:

King County Wastewater Treatment Division

Services:

  • Strategic planning

  • Stakeholder interviews

  • Materials development

  • Equity and social justice and Title VI outreach

  • Open houses and workshops

  • Online open house with InfoCommunity.org

  • Presentations and briefings

Project description:

King County is preparing its first systemwide comprehensive plan for wastewater treatment in 20 years. The Clean Water Plan will guide the County’s decisions about water quality investments to protect our local waterways and health in the near-term and over the next 40 years. As part of a multi-faceted communications team, S&A was hired to plan and implement a regional public involvement effort to reach urban, suburban, and rural communities within the service area.

Results:

The Clean Water Plan communications team’s work is ongoing. During the first phase of outreach, the team conducted a broad outreach effort to educate the public about the project and better understand community priorities related to the use and stewardship of our water over the coming decades. By the numbers, the project has included:

  • 2 online open houses
  • 2 public surveys
  • 1 webinar
  • 1 workshop and 3 virtual workshops in 2021
  • 30+ community interviews
  • Conducting outreach at 7 community fairs and festivals, reaching 400+ community members in 1:1 conversations