In 2017, catastrophic failures at the West Point Treatment Plant in Discovery Park turned into one of the worst infrastructure disasters in the region’s history – sending 30 million gallons of untreated sewage into the Sound.
The Department of Ecology fined King County and ordered improvements.
But smaller spills have continued: In 2018 and 2019 the plant dumped more than six million gallons of untreated or improperly treated sewage into the Puget Sound.
So, the Suquamish Tribe took a big step: In 2020, it announced its intent to sue the County.