One year ago, this month, our collective lives changed dramatically. Daily life as we knew it suddenly shut down, or rather, locked down, as the COVID-19 virus arrived in the Seattle area. For many, going to work turned into orders to stay at home. Those whose jobs necessitated working in… [ Keep reading ]
Amanda Bidwell is a Data Scientist with the Source Control & Pollution Prevention Division, a team dedicated to working to eliminate and respond to sources of pollution that could enter the drainage system and pollute our waterways within SPU’s Drainage & Wastewater (DWW) line of business. Amanda has spent her career focusing on the environmental impacts of pollution, and in doing so,… [ Keep reading ]
At the start of the pandemic, one year ago, we had no idea what a huge impact it would have on our lives, our livelihoods, and our kids. While our normal work at the Cedar River Watershed Education Center (CRWEC) had us leading school field trips so that children could… [ Keep reading ]
“I think we’re a divided country right now – there is so much hatred and anger. But this is also the first time in my life that I think people are trying to have a genuine conversation about race and equality.” These words from Dee Reed, Division Director for Utility… [ Keep reading ]
Due to winter weather conditions, there will be no residential garbage, recycling or food/yard waste pickup in Seattle today, Monday, February 15, 2021. Weather and road conditions permitting, garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste service will resume Tuesday on a revised schedule — with customers scheduled for pickup today (Monday) collected… [ Keep reading ]
UPDATED Sunday, February 14, 2021: SPU’s North and South Transfer Stations will close today – Sunday, February, 14, 2021 – at 3pm due to winter weather and to allow for staff to get home safely. Pending winter weather conditions, stations will reopen on Monday, February 15, 2021. Update for Saturday,… [ Keep reading ]
While Seattle isn’t known for harsh winters, it never hurts to do a little preparation before temperatures dip below freezing. Follow these helpful tips and you’ll be ready to enjoy a Seattle Winter. Be Prepared: Protect Your Pipes From Freezing During colder weather, here are some good tips to help… [ Keep reading ]
You know when you spent your entire Saturday raking leaves only to wake up the next day, and be astonished that it looks exactly the way it did before you started? For SPU’s Clean City Division, that feeling is a familiar one. It’s not unusual for this team to pick up an old couch on the street corner, only to see a discarded broken refrigerator appear at the very… [ Keep reading ]
When an SPU customer calls about an issue with their drinking water – say the water is a brownish color instead of the normal crystal clear – they will usually end up speaking with Sheppard (Shep) Gray, Enos Mowatt, Jennifer (Jen) Coffin, or Kenneth (Ken) Volpone. These four water inspectors… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle’s reputation may be a rainy one, but did you know that the Emerald City only receives an average of 38 inches of precipitation a year? That’s about the same as the national average. Our reputation for precipitation comes from the fact that we have a higher number of days… [ Keep reading ]
