Stormwater services and information

Report a drainage or water quality problem

Learn about stormwater and how to reduce pollution

 
Rainfall washes pollutants from daily activities into our local streams, lakes and Puget Sound.

Introduction to stormwater in King County
Learn about the science of stormwater, common problems related to stormwater including causes and solutions, homeowner tips, regulations, and how to get help from King County.

• Stormwater runoff pollution and how to reduce it 
• What are stormwater facilities?
• Stormwater science
• Stormwater glossary of terms and abbreviations

Reduce stormwater and its pollution at home

• Yard care, salmon and Puget Sound - Yard Talk video episode 14
• Green roofs and rain gardens - Yard Talk video episode 12
• Carwash kit - Find out how to build and use a car wash kit to help reduce water pollution in streams, lakes and Puget Sound.

Act to reduce local flooding

• Clear storm drains, reduce local flooding - 15-sec video (WMV) or 30-sec audio (MP3)
• Join Take Winter by Storm on Facebook (external link)

Neighborhood Drainage Assistance Program (NDAP)
Get technical assistance for questions about construction, permitting, and storm drainage and request capital improvements or repairs to address flooding, erosion and sedimentation problems affecting private property in unincorporated King County.

Drainage design resources for professionals

2009 Surface Water Design Manual
Documents and software to help engineers design storm drainage systems that reduce problems for downstream neighbors and minimize damage to our natural environment.

• the Integrated Pond - architectural design tips for buidling beautiful and usable stormwater facilities
• Design Manual training
  

KCRTS hydrologic and KCBW hydraulic modeling software

• The King County Runoff Time Series (KCRTS) hydrologic model is a required methodology under the 1998 King County Surface Water Design Manual for sizing detention and infiltration flow control facilities.
• The King County Backwater (KCBW) Program is a standard step backwater analysis program for pipe networks, culverts, and simple open channels.

Drainage maintenance resources

• Drainage maintenance standards - self assessment handbook (2005)
• Drainage system maintenance contractor list
• Drainage system design engineer list

Low impact development reports and resources (external link)
The Puget Sound Action Team (PSAT) has some great Low Impact Development Information, Reports, and Resources on their Web site.

• Model Low Impact Development Strategies for Big Box Retail Stores
• Low-impact development for roads
  Example project for "green building" in the county's transporation infrastructure, incorporating features such as porous concrete sidewalks and a bioretention facility/rain garden.

Critical areas package
Look up King County stormwater, clearing and grading ordinances.

King County Waterworks Garden stormwater facility
Example of a beautiful and functional stormwater treatment facility that mixes art, technology and nature.

King County climate change plan
How King County seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to projected climate change impacts, and embed mitigation and adaptation into county policy decisions. The plan incorporates issues, goals and actions related to stormwater.

Flooding, stormwater and wastewater breakout session results, King County Climate Change Conference
Review a summary report describing anticipated affects of global warming on flooding, stormwater and wastewater in Washington State with proposed adaptation strategies. Also, look up the flooding, stormwater and wastewater session agenda, presentations, speaker credentials and biographies.

Background information

Stormwater resources and references
Links to regulatory agencies, environmental organizations, King County stormwater staff directory, and other resources for information on stormwater and related water resource topics.

Annual reports to Ecology for the NPDES Municipal Stormwater Permit

Facility and permit compliance - King County performance measures
These performance measures track King County's compliance with its surface water management permit among other things.