“Puget Sound should be as clean, productive and protected in reality as it appears to tourists visiting us on cruise ships,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, chair of the Council’s Growth Management and Natural Resources Committee. “With our outstanding wastewater treatment system, we have the capacity and technology to work with cruise ships on more environmentally-friendly management of cruise ship waste, particularly biomass.”

In April, Phillips called for a study of cruise ship wastewater management practices. The resulting report identified environmental impacts could be avoided by diverting waste from cruise ships though the county’s wastewater management system. While the report found Puget Sound cruise ships currently manage wastewater well, it that showed that partially-treated biomass could be managed in a more environmentally beneficial manner. The county’s South Treatment Plant could receive and incorporate biomass into the existing treatment process without any expansion or modification of the South Treatment Plant. King County recycles all its biosolids, allowing them to be used to fertilize Washington forests and farms.

The council’s action today directs the Wastewater Treatment Division to continue to work with the Department of Ecology, the cruise ship industry, and the Port of Seattle to develop biomass management options.

Cruise ship wastewater practices in Puget Sound are currently regulated by a Memorandum of Understanding established in 2004 between the State Department of Ecology, the Port of Seattle, and members of the Northwest Cruise Ship Association.

Cruise ships are regular visitors to the region during the summer, with over 200 vessels from five major cruise lines making a port of call in Seattle. The Port of Seattle estimates that 150 cruises leave for Alaska from Seattle from May to September. Cruise ships generate approximately 35 tons of biomass each day. Currently, most cruise ships discharge this partially-treated material beyond 12 nautical miles from Washington’s shoreline at a minimum speed of 6 knots. Puget Sound advocates are encouraging a heightened level of awareness regarding waste discharges, especially in light of the federal listing of the Chinook salmon as a threatened species and the resident killer whale population as an endangered species.

“This study shows that we can do better for Puget Sound,” said Councilmember Phillips. “I look forward to working with the cruise ship industry and the Port of Seattle to make that happen. The beauty of Puget Sound is what draws visitors to this region, and we all have a role to play in keeping the sound a vital and healthy ecosystem.”

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system and type in “2007-0457”