As 2024 draws to an end, we are looking back on what we’ve accomplished at Seattle Public Utilities over the past year. In partnership with our community and guided by our vision—Community Centered, One Water, Zero Waste—we’ve tackled challenges, embraced opportunities, and continued our work to create a sustainable and equitable future.
Our 2024 highlights include:
- Delivering Reliable Essential Services
We maintained and repaired infrastructure to ensure the continued delivery of reliable water and waste services. For example, our crews cleaned and inspected over 400 miles of underground pipes and completed more than 200 sewer and drainage repairs.
- Promoting Reuse and Waste Reduction
We made strides toward a Zero Waste future by diverting salvaged construction materials for reuse, supporting innovative food rescue projects, and piloting reusable food and beverage ware at local events.
- Growing our Workforce
Our Water and Drainage and Wastewater lines of business recruited and trained two new apprenticeship classes, creating opportunities for workers to earn a good wage and benefits while gaining valuable skills and experience.
- Keeping Seattle Clean and Safe
Our Clean City team collected 3.2 million pounds of waste from illegal dumping, litter, and encampments, and our Adopt a Street volunteer partners removed 185,000 pounds of waste from the community.
- Investing in Historically Underserved Communities
We took significant steps to enhance resilience in historically under-resourced communities, including securing a $160 million settlement for pollution cleanup in the Lower Duwamish River and implementing flood control measures to protect the South Park neighborhood.
- Improving Environmental Health
Through our Cedar River Watershed Habitat Conservation Plan, we’re making critical investments to protect salmon habitat in the Cedar River. Our projects have restored almost 100 acres of floodplain and stream channel habitat, and returning salmon have already been spawning and producing fry.
These are just a few of many achievements—you’ll find more in our 2024 End of Year Highlights. Our efforts and accomplishments reflect SPU’s long-term vision and demonstrate our commitment to putting you—our community—at the center of all we do. None of this would be possible without your partnership. Thank you for being an essential part of SPU.
