Symbolizing the benefits of new water-efficient washing machines, King County Executive Ron Sims pulled a jug of water, a plush duck and play money out of a washer Tuesday at a King County Housing Authority facility in Bellevue.

Both the environment and the public will gain from the savings in the water-conservation partnership of the King County Wastewater Treatment Division, King County Housing Authority, Seattle Public Utilities and 25 local water utilities.

"This program is just one example of how we all benefit from using our natural resources wisely to meet human needs and protect public health and the environment," said County Executive Sims. "In this single partnership effort alone, we'll save an estimated 11 million gallons a year. To put that savings into perspective, 11 million gallons of water is enough to supply the water used each day in Redmond and Issaquah combined."

Inside a laundry room in Bellevue, Executive Sims and Housing Authority Executive Director Stephen Norman marked the completion of the program to replace washing machines with water-efficient models in all the Housing Authority's residential communities. The new washers will save an estimated 10 million gallons of water a year.

"This is an investment in a sustainable future," said KCHA Executive Director Norman. "This kind of prudent resource management is good for both the environment and our residents, and it helps us maintain the viability of quality affordable housing for the people of King County. "

King County's Wastewater Treatment Division also teamed up with Seattle Public Utilities and local water utilities involved in the Saving Water Partnership to provide funding and rebates for the water-efficient washing machines.

"The City of Seattle and the 25 other members of the Saving Water Partnership are pleased to partner with King County in this effort to help low-income residents save water," said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. "These savings will help us reach our region's conservation goals and ensure a plentiful supply for decades to come. "

In addition, King County and the Housing Authority joined with the Sisters of Mercy Housing Association to support installation of low-flow toilets, showerheads and faucet aerators at Appian Way, a nonprofit apartment complex in Kent. That effort saved an additional 1 million gallons of water each year.

The water savings will also reduce the quantity of water treated at King County's regional wastewater treatment plants in Seattle and Renton. And the new washers will benefit residents by enabling them to save on detergent costs and wear and tear to clothes. The washers, which don't use agitators to beat clothes, need only a quarter-cup of detergent per load.

County assistance in buying water-efficient appliances is not limited to large organizations like the Housing Authority. Rebates are available for efficient washing machines installed in the service area of all local water utilities that are part of the Saving Water Partnership.

More information is available by calling (206) 684-SAVE or by checking the Web site at www.savingwater.org. Rebates are also available for commercial customers.

For more information about King County's Water Conservation Program, call (206) 296-8361.

King County's Wastewater Treatment Division protects public health and the environment by serving 16 cities, 16 sewer districts and more than 1.4 million residents in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties.

The Housing Authority administers a range of quality affordable rental and homeownership programs for residents of King County. It serves more than 14,000 families, elderly and disabled households.