Drainage & Sewer Area Planning
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) area planning is a process to solve complex drainage and sewer challenges at the neighborhood level. Area planning also provides a big-picture strategy to improve neighborhoods in many ways, including recommendations for infrastructure investments, partnerships with other agencies or developers, furthering community-led efforts, or City policy improvements.
SPU selects areas for planning based on factors such as frequent and severe flooding, population growth, neighborhoods with a history of underinvestment, and locations where other City projects are planned. Area planning boundaries are determined by drainage and sewer systems and can include parts or multiple neighborhoods.
Area plans
SPU is currently working on these Area Plans:
SPU has completed Area Plans for:
The overall goal of area planning is to identify cost-effective short- and long-term strategies to solve drainage and sewer challenges. These goals align with Shape Our Water, SPU’s 50- year plan for water resilience.
Specific goals vary by each area plan and may include:
- Decrease flooding and sewer backups in homes, businesses, and streets
- Reduce combined sewer overflows that occur when rainwater and wastewater overflow into local waterbodies during heavy rainfall
- Fill in gaps in the drainage and sewer systems to support future growth and climate challenges
- Improve and protect the water quality of our creeks, lakes, and local waterbodies
- Reduce drainage and sewer system maintenance costs
- Provide multi-benefit solutions that align with community priorities
- Find opportunities to collaborate with community, other city departments, and regional partners
Area Planning can take one to three years, depending on the range of issues and partners.
Early Assessment
Gather neighborhood information and community priorities, identify drainage and sewer system issues, and complete a Racial Equity Toolkit
Analysis and Engagement
Improve understanding of challenges and opportunities through research, data collection, and community engagement.
Draft Area Plan
Create and get feedback on the plan that outlines issues, sets priorities, and summarizes recommendations.
Implementation
Share the final area plan and recommendations with other SPU teams, City partners, and community partners to move forward.