Every time you flush your home or office toilet, the sewage from your bathroom goes to your municipal sewage treatment plant (though some are served by septic systems). Sewage treatment sends nitrogen-rich pollution into the Puget Sound and this can have grave consequences for our environment.

From closing beaches to polluting shellfish, sewage has impacts if not managed properly.

We need to clean up sewage today before this burden is handed down to future generations.

Upgrade sewage treatment plants discharging pollution into Puget Sound

The Department of Ecology is asking for public comment on a draft Clean Water Act discharge permit. The permit requires sewage treatment plants to transition to advanced treatment to reduce nitrogen and other pollution into our waterways and the Puget Sound.

Urge the state to tighten up this pollution-control program and call on cities and counties to do their parts to protect Puget Sound from sewage pollution.

Nitrogen from sewage treatment creates algae blooms. When algae decays, it robs water of oxygen and worsens ocean acidification. Fish need oxygen, and shellfish need less corrosive waters. Science has confirmed that our sewage harms Puget Sound. Fortunately, the technology exists to fix this problem and has been used throughout the U.S., including Spokane and Sequim.

When you speak up, you will remind Ecology that people care deeply about clean water in Puget Sound and throughout the state. Your voice will help counter utilities who say the Clean Water discharge permit is not enough of a priority for our region.

This is a rare opportunity to get on a cleaner path to treat sewage for the health of our Puget Sound ecosystem. When it comes to cleaning up sewage, our Puget Sound region lags behind other iconic waters around the country. We need to alter course now to avoid worse problems in the future.

Clean water matters to us all. Share your comments to set us on a path to a healthier Puget Sound that can be enjoyed for generations to come.