Seattle Public Utilities

This week on Mark’s Weekly Watering Advice, did you know there are low-water use lawns? Check out https://lnkd.in/gmBHqfWV to learn more.

Our colleagues are always in motion serving our community. 👷♀️ On July 24, Wastewater Pump Station Maintenance Workers removed a fats, oils, and grease (FOG) buildup at Pump Station 17. Colleagues used knowledge, experience, strength, and teamwork to ensure the city’s wastewater could flow. They are crucial when more FOG enters the system from restaurants, large gatherings, and other festivities. If you'd like, share this information with friends about the proper disposal of cooking oil and grease: https://ow.ly/nhHj50SThbs

On July 25, the City of Seattle hosted a Citywide Networking Event at City Hall in celebration of #NationalInternDay! 🎉 Interns from across City departments, including SPU, came together to connect, share experiences, and celebrate the value of public service. The event featured inspiring words from Seattle City Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth and SPU’s Senior Executive Assistant Jessica Ryan. It was a day filled with relationship-building, story-sharing, and a renewed commitment to making a positive impact in our community! #SeattlePublicUtilities #CityofSeattle #Interns #PublicService #Community #Impact #FutureLeaders

Check out https://lnkd.in/gmBHqfWV to learn more about when and how long to water. 💦 #SeattlePublicUtilities #SavingWater #Water #Conservation #Summer #WateringSchedule

Celebrate Our Team at the Seattle Municipal Tower (SMT) Gallery! 🖼️✨ Make sure to visit the SMT Gallery (3rd floor) to see about 20 photos of our colleagues in action in recent years. Photographers made the images part of SPU’s 1% for Art Portable Works project. As one said: “It was humbling and inspiring to meet these workers.”

Food is Seattle's largest waste component and a major greenhouse gas contributor. 🍎 Our new food rescue project partners—Vault89 Strategies, Cascade Bicycle Club, and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health—aim to change that by redistributing unsold food to people in need. Learn more about their innovative solutions at https://ow.ly/tRMi50SMxPK #SeattlePublicUtilities #FoodWastePrevention #FoodRescue #Environment #Community #Impact

Through Labor Day, Seattle will be home to community festivals, celebrations, and events, including ones that Seattle Public Utilities is sponsoring and attending to engage and learn from residents. Here are community events that we will attend in the coming weeks: • Saturday (August 3, 12-5 p.m.): Adopt a Drain Stormwater Engagement program at the 18th Annual Duwamish River Festival, Duwamish River People’s Park and Shoreline Habitat, 8700 Dallas Ave. S., Seattle, and surrounding areas in the South Park neighborhood. •Thursday (August 15, 3-7 p.m.): SW Single Family - Where Does It Go Wednesday Outreach at Lake City Farmers Market, NE 125th St. and 28th Ave. NE, Seattle. • Saturday (August 17, 12-5 p.m.): Wastewater Engagement, Adopt a Drain, Adopt a Street & Reuse Seattle programs at the Big Day of Play, Rainier Playfields, 3700 S. Alaska St., Seattle.

This week on Mark’s Weekly Watering Advice, learn more about how and when to water more slowly at https://ow.ly/HAFG50SLkNM. 🌻

Last week, Bitter Lake neighbors shared opinions with Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) and City of Seattle staff about future public art opportunities for the Bitter Lake Reservoir site. The proposed public art opportunities – including sculpture, sidewalk art, and live community programming – were informed by previous outreach efforts where members of the community shared interest to have public art that celebrates the neighborhood's diversity and draws community to the site. This project is a collaboration involving SPU, Seattle Parks and Recreation, the Office of Arts & Culture, and the Department of Neighborhoods to provide the Bitter Lake neighborhood with an improved reservoir, additional open space, and public art. Learn more about the Bitter Lake Reservoir project at https://lnkd.in/gAhjvkNA

Fun Fact: Every year, SPU’s Landsburg Diversion Dam, which is downstream from the Cedar River Watershed, is taken offline for cleaning and to perform critical maintenance tasks. This is a huge undertaking and includes coordination among all divisions in the Water Line of Business and Utility Operations and Maintenance Branch, as well as support from the SPU Safety Team. It takes about one week to complete the extensive work which includes the removal of sediment in the forebay. While cleaning at Landsburg is taking place, SPU must provide drinking water to the region’s 1.6 million customers from the Tolt River Watershed and other Cedar River sources downstream from Landsburg. A big shout out to the dozens of staff (some pictured here in June) who are involved in this yearly endeavor. Learn more about the Landsburg Diversion Dam at https://ow.ly/HeVz50SJx1b