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Waterworks Gardens

Lorna Jordan

South Treatment Plant

Eight acres of ponds and gardens bring beauty to wastewater treatment and habitat restoration.

Lorna Jordan (1954-2021). Waterworks Gardens, 1996. Earthwork. South Treatment Plant, Renton, WA. King County Public Art Collection. Photo: joefreemanjunior.com

Located at Renton’s South Treatment Plant, Lorna Jordan’s Waterworks Gardens is an environmental artwork that combines classical garden design, wastewater treatment infrastructure, and habitat restoration.

Stormwater runoff at the site is pumped into 11 ponds that filter out contaminants and sediments before it’s released into the wetland, where it helps to sustain plant life, microorganisms, and wildlife. Inspired by Italian gardens and their theatricality, Jordan designed a series of five garden spaces among the ponds, using native plants, stone, and mosaic to tell the story of stormwater. A “Water Walk” path weaves among them and connects with trails from the cities of Renton and Tukwila.

The progression of the gardens traces the stages of the water’s cycle: impure, working, mysterious, beautiful, and life-sustaining. At the entry to the waterworks, The Knoll provides a vista of the first treatment pond, defined by red quartzite pavers and basalt columns. The Funnel is a series of terraced, leaf-shaped ponds joined by the path, and The Grotto is a gathering space oriented around a large mosaic in the shape of a seed pod and surrounded by handmade stone seating. The Passage evokes a sense of dispersal and calm as the water slows on its way to the wetland. The Release allows the purified water to flow back into the environment.
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Lorna Jordan (1954-2021). Waterworks Gardens, 1996. Earthwork. South Treatment Plant, Renton, WA. King County Public Art Collection. Photo: joefreemanjunior.com
Lorna Jordan (1954-2021). Waterworks Gardens, 1996. Earthwork. South Treatment Plant, Renton, WA. King County Public Art Collection. Photo: joefreemanjunior.com
Lorna Jordan (1954-2021). Waterworks Gardens, 1996. Earthwork. South Treatment Plant, Renton, WA. King County Public Art Collection. Photo: joefreemanjunior.com

About the Location

South Treatment Plant

As part of the King County Wastewater Treatment Division, the South Plant in Renton is active all day every day, treating between 90 million and 300 million gallons of wastewater in a 24-hour period, depending on the season. The plant serves roughly 839,000 people living in Auburn, Kent, Renton, Bellevue, Issaquah, and Sammamish. It also…

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