Wastewater discharge application process

Learn more about the process to apply for a wastewater discharge permit.

Note: Even if you DO NOT need to apply for a permit, you are still subject to Federal, State, and/or Local discharge limits and regulations.

New customers

Please call the King County Industrial Waste team. A staff member will walk you through which forms to fill out:

Renewing customers

Your renewal letter indicates which forms you need to fill out. Find links to the forms below.

Hours: Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm PST

Address: 201 S Jackson Street, Mail Stop KSC-NR-5513, Seattle, Washington 98104

Industrial Waste Program survey

A KCIW staff member or your renewal letter may instruct you to fill out a survey. KCIW uses your responses to determine if you need to submit a wastewater discharge permit application.

Delegate signatory authority

Use this form to delegate signature authority to someone who is not an "authorized representative" of your company, as defined on the form.

What happens after you submit your survey?

After reviewing your survey form, KCIW may be able to make a permitting decision based on the survey form or we will request that your facility submit a wastewater discharge permit application. KCIW will contact you with further instructions.

How much advance notice is needed to obtain a new approval to discharge industrial wastewater?

The time it takes (either 60 or 90 days) to obtain approval to discharge depends upon the type and amount of wastewater a company discharges to the sewer.

Companies that are planning to start discharging industrial wastewater from a new facility, or to start discharging wastewater from a new process at an existing operation, must file applications according to the following criteria: if the proposed operation will be subject to a federal categorical pretreatment standard, for instance metal finishing or centralized waste treatment, then the application must be filed at least 90 days prior to the start of discharge.

All non-categorical dischargers must apply at least 60 days prior to the start of discharge.

The sooner applicants contact KCIW to discuss their applications, the better!

One-Time discharge authorization request

Businesses or individuals may request to discharge industrial waste to the sanitary sewer as a one-time discharge, if the wastewater meets King County Local Discharge Limits and conditions, without having to apply for a waste discharge permit, a process that requires a full permit application and oversight from the King County Industrial Waste Program (KCIW).

Use this form to apply for ONLY a one-time, short duration, waste discharge approval from KCIW. King County may require that you complete the full permit application depending on the information provided on this one-time discharge authorization request form.

Wastewater discharge permit application

Fill out the permit application if a KCIW staff member or your renewal letter has instructed you to do so.

Delegate signatory authority

Use this form to delegate signature authority to someone who is not an "authorized representative" of your company, as defined on the form.

Supplemental forms

If instructed by a KCIW staff member or your renewal letter, please include the appropriate business sector specific form with your application.