How Kamuron Gurol is Building 3rd Generation Wastewater System in King County, WA

Today, Mahesh Lunani talks to Kamuron Gurol, Director of the King County Wastewater Treatment Division, Washington State (including Seattle). Prior to taking on this role, Kamuron was a Corridor Development Director at a 116-mile rail system connecting greater Seattle area.  Kamuron was also the City Manager at City of Burien, a community of 50,000 with hundreds of businesses.

In his current role, Gurol oversees 5 treatment plants, 400 miles of interceptor pipes, 48 pump stations, 39 CSO outfalls, and 25 regulator stations- an asset base worth billions.

In a wide ranging conversation we talk about the future of water, including how we treat everything to wastewater to hot water, to PFAS, medication residue in waste, and more. He believes the circular economy can be not cradle to grave, but rather cradle to cradle.

Kamuron looks at the job of building the third generation of King County infrastructure like fixing up an hold house. It may have good "bones," but it needs to be worked on.

We look at ESG - too long, loud or "smelly' plants have gone into poor neighborhoods.  What can we do to work with our neighbors instead of dictating to them?

Today's guest as a perspective on recruiting the next generation of water workers that we haven't had before.  If we are looking to find young people fresh out of school, we might be looking in the wrong place.

Use all of your senses, and not just your brain.  Kamuron explains what that advice means.

More:

King County Wastewater Treatment Division Website: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/wtd.aspx

Kamuron Bio: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/wtd/about/agency/wtd-director.aspx

Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/