RWQC unanimously approves scoping document for Regional Wastewater Services Plan update

The King County Regional Water Quality Committee voted unanimously Jan. 16 to adopt a resolution supporting the scoping document that sets the scope and schedule for updating the Regional Wastewater Services Plan (RWSP).

The committee’s action formalizes support for the Wastewater Treatment Division’s (WTD) approach and includes an amendment, offered by Commissioner Lloyd Warren, to insert the word “customer” before every instance of “affordability” in the scoping document and to add a policy question about how contract agency provisions should be evaluated for inclusion in the RWSP.

The scoping document, presented by Jenny Giambattista, Council staff, “describes the overall approach that will be used to update King County's regional wastewater services plan,” she told the committee, and lists major tasks, deliverables, a timeline and the policy issues to be analyzed. Giambattista flagged edits made after the committee’s December review, including language on rate equity and a new policy question about environmental justice related to the 2021 Healthy Environment for All Act.

Commissioner Lloyd Warren explained the rationale for his amendment, saying the change “had to do with the issue around affordability” and that the committee’s discussion has focused on impacts to “individual customers or groups of customers” rather than only system-level affordability. He also told the committee the added contract question was intended to ensure the RWSP evaluates policy embedded in contracts and functional plans, not only code-based policy.

WTD Director provided technical context during the discussion, noting the scoping document “outlines the issues to be dealt with. It is not a policy document; it doesn't set policy,” and said the amendments improve clarity.

After discussion, the committee adopted Amendment 1 by voice vote and then approved resolution RWQC 2025-01 by voice vote. Chair Claudia Balducci announced the motion carried unanimously.

The resolution also asks that WTD brief the RWQC before making “any substantive changes to the scoping document,” a procedural request intended to preserve committee oversight during the multi-year planning process.

Next steps outlined in the packet and described at the meeting include producing a draft RWSP by 2027 and seeking an Executive recommendation and King County Council adoption in 2029. Committee staff and WTD emphasized the scoping document is the starting point for deeper analysis and that members will have multiple opportunities to review subsequent work products.

For the record, the committee heard the amendment and resolution during the Jan. 16 meeting and took final action on the resolution the same day.