King Street Odor Control Project

Construction begins spring 2008

To protect public health and the environment, King County is installing equipment to reduce corrosive, odor-causing gases in a major wastewater conveyance pipe beneath Occidental Avenue and Second Avenue South in Seattle.

The pipe's foul smelling gases irritate the public and corrode our region's wastewater conveyance system. To address these problem gases, King County is installing strong fans and odor control equipment on King County property between King Street-Amtrak Station and the Weller Street Bridge. Gases pulled out of the existing sewer pipe by the fans will be transported to an odor "scrubber" through a pipe to be installed underneath South King Street. Gases in the "scrubber" pass through a carbon filter which removes odor causing compounds. The compounds are absorbed by the carbon and the cleaned air is released to the environment. Most of this equipment will fit underground; only an air stack and a small electrical building will remain visible at project's end.

Work begins March 2008 and should be completed by Summer 2009. Crews will work to install pipe under South King Street from 10 p.m. - 7 a.m. weeknights. Night work will only occur on nights with no scheduled events at Qwest Field and Exhibition Center or Safeco Field. After the pipe is installed, work hours will typically be 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays.

King County has been working with the following organizations during the design process: the City of Seattle, Pioneer Square Preservation Board, Washington State Department of Transportation, Washington State Public Stadium Authority, and Amtrak.

Estimated project schedule

• Bid Advertised: Winter 2007
• Award contract: Early 2008
• Begin construction: April 2008
• Complete major construction: Summer 2009

>> back to top

News about the project

• Project Update, July 29, 2008 (.PDF file)
• Project Update, July 9, 2008 (.PDF file)
• Project Update, June 12, 2008 (.PDF file)
• Project Update, June 4, 2008 (.PDF file)
• Project Update, May 28, 2008 (.PDF file)
• Project Update, April 7, 2008 (.PDF file)
• News Release, Feb. 12, 2008 -- Infrastructure investments, environmental improvements top clean-water agency priorities in 2008
• Project Update, February 2007 (PDF file, 591KB)

>> back to top

For more information

• Contact Doug Marsano by phone at 206-684-1235 or e-mail at doug.marsano@kingcounty.gov.

>> back to top

Department of Natural Resources and Parks
Wastewater Treatment Division
201 S. Jackson St.
Seattle, WA 98104-3855
Fax: 206-684-1278

Updated: July 30, 2008

WTD Construction Projects

Odor Control -- Working in your neighborhood to protect public health and the environment