How to report a drainage or water quality problem

Who to contact depends on where you are & the problem:

In which jurisdiction is your problem located? If you are unsure, check parcel viewer to find out.
- In a city area (incorporated King County)
- Outside city areas (unincorporated King County)
What type of problem are you facing? The table below helps you identify the right agency.

Type of problem	Responsible agency	Telephone
Drainage problems on private property Illegal connections to the stormdrain system Landslide and erosion problems Polluted discharges from commercial or residential properties Polluting business practices Problems with drainage facilities e.g. overgrown, damaged etc. Sewage entering the stormdrain system or surface waters Spills to the drainage system or waterways	King County Stormwater Services: submit a report form	206-477-4811
Drainage issues in the road right of way – blocked culverts, unmaintained ditches Erosion from utility work in the road right-of-way	King County Roads Services	206-477-8100
Illegal dumping	King County Illegal Dumping Hotline	206-296-7483
Accumulation of junk and debris Clearing or grading without permits Construction without a permit Erosion from unpermitted construction and development activities Illegally placed mobile homes or factory-assembled structures Livestock density and manure management problems Motor homes or RVs being used as housing Open wells and other hazardous conditions Open-to-entry or dangerous buildings Operation of an illegal business Storage of junk cars Substandard housing Zoning code violations	King County Department of Local Services (DLS) Code Enforcement	206-296-6680
Erosion from permitted construction and development sites both in and out of road right-of-way	DLS Code Enforcement	206-296-6600
Septic system problems, septic system installation/maintenance, haulers and disposal, septic discharges	Public Health - Seattle & King County -Environmental Health Services Division	206-477-8050
Drinking water concerns from private wells	Public Health - Seattle & King County -Environmental Health Services Division - Private Wells	206-477-8050
Sewage discharge from broken sanitary sewer lines or equipment malfunction	King County Wastewater Treatment and your local sewer agency
Industrial and commercial discharges to the sanitary or combined sewer systems	King County Industrial Waste Program	206-477-5300
Spills into the sanitary sewer system	Your local sewer agency
Vessel discharges Oil & hazardous material spills Other environmental incidents	Washington State Department of Ecology	800-258-5990
Large oil spills in Puget Sound, lakes, or streams Hazardous material spills	1) National Response Center AND 2) Oil Spill Task Force	800-424-8802 AND 800-OILS-911
Traffic-related spills	911 or Washington State Department of Ecology	800-258-5990
All other water quality problems within incorporated areas	Your City
Concerns about water quality at swimming beaches	King County Lakes Program

What happens if a violation is found?

Water and Land Resources will require responsible persons to resolve drainage and water quality problems and/or implement on-site best management practices (BMP's) as outlined in King County's Storm Water Pollution Prevention Manual.

Water and Land Resources will rely, as much as possible, on education and technical assistance in gaining compliance with the Water Quality Code (K.C.C.9.12) and Drainage Code (K.C.C.9.04). WLR will take enforcement action when there is a clear and/or flagrant violation of the Water Pollution Code or Drainage Code when compliance is not achieved.

Why do I have to give my name and contact information?

Because we may need to contact you to find out more details about the problem or actual location. We may determine that the complaint belongs to another agency and need to get back to you with this information. This also allows us to keep you informed of the results of our investigation.