Storm and Surface Water Drainage Utilities

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Overview

Utilities provide stormwater services to the community through user fees. The activities of a stormwater utility vary but include managing and overseeing publicly owned facilities and local drainage systems, planning for the long-term health of the local drainage basin, conducting education, outreach, and water quality programs, and implementing capital improvement projects.

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Local Stormwater Regulation

The Washington State Department of Ecology’s (Ecology) Municipal Stormwater General Permits and Stormwater Manuals webpages provide stormwater permit implementation and management guidance, including manuals for both western and eastern Washington.

Washington’s most populated cities and counties must comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I and Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permits, which require local governments to incorporate runoff treatment and flow control best management processes into new development.

Examples of City Stormwater Programs and Codes

• Bellingham
  • Surface and Stormwater Utility – Provides links to pages on stormwater utility billing, storm and surface water utility funding, storm and surface water system maintenance, stormwater management program, and stormwater projects.
  • Municipal Code Ch. 15.16 – Surface and Storm Water Utility
• Marysville
  • Surface Water Management – Identifies the duties and responsibilities of the surface water management program and includes links to the surface water comprehensive plan, stormwater management action plan, watershed plans, and surface water utility billing.
  • Municipal Code Ch. 14.19 – Surface Water Utility
• Redmond
  • Stormwater Utility – Includes information on the planning and maintenance of the stormwater management systems, a stormwater FAQ, city-owned stormwater ponds, stormwater management plan, and more
  • Municipal Code Ch. 13.18 – Stormwater Management Utility
• Richland
  • Stormwater Utility – Informs residents about the importance of preventing stormwater pollution from entering waterways and includes links to the stormwater management plan, the treatment program, pollution education, and more.
  • Municipal Code Sec. 16.04.020 – Creation of Stormwater Utility - Authority
• Shelton
  • Stormwater – Provides an overview of the program, allows the public to report a stormwater issue online, and links to documents pertaining to NPDES permitting, rates and fees, car washing, FAQs, and worksheets for compliance with Ecology’s Stormwater Management Manual.
  • Municipal Code Title 13 – Stormwater
• Spokane Valley Stormwater – Provides general information on stormwater management and links to the NPDES permit, current capital projects, city code regulations, and swale maintenance. 
• Walla Walla
  • Stormwater – Includes information on how to report a stormwater issue and links to best management practices, FAQs, permits and regulations, rates, and guidance to prevent stormwater pollution.
  • Municipal Code Ch. 13.06 – Stormwater Management Utility – Regulations and Rates

Examples of County Stormwater Programs and Codes

• Douglas County 
  • Stormwater Utility – Describes the purpose, program elements, and services of the stormwater utility, and includes planning documents and FAQ resources.
  • Code Ch. 19.40 – Surface and Stormwater Management Utility Code
• San Juan County
  • Stormwater – Provides information on street sweeping, stormwater system cleaning and monitoring, projects, and stormwater basin planning.
  • Code Ch. 13.04 – Stormwater Utility
• Spokane County
  • Stormwater Utility – Links to extensive resources pertaining to stormwater management, including community informational resources, fees, water quality regulations, studies, and permits
  • Code Ch. 9.70 – Charges for Stormwater Management Services and Benefits
• Thurston County Stormwater Utility – Links to the county stormwater management program and capital facilities plan, stormwater utility services, utility rates, drainage manual, and the advisory board; also links to online form to report dumping/spills down a storm drain.
• Yakima County Stormwater Management – Links to a variety of resources, including annual reports, stormwater manuals, a site plan checklist, and information on the Yakima Regional Stormwater Group

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Green Infrastructure/ Low Impact Development

Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), also known as green infrastructure or low impact development (LID), includes methods to manage stormwater runoff that mimic natural processes. Instead of directing rainwater to storm drains and pipes, GSI uses solutions like plants, trees, and soil to capture, slow down, and clean runoff from storms. See Ecology’s Low Impact Development Guidance, which includes LID briefings for eastern and western Washington, for more information.

Examples of LID/GSI Programs

• Bothell Bioswale Tip Sheet – Describes the environmentally friendly impacts of bioswales, which includes absorbing and slowing the flow of runoff.
• Kelso Low Impact Development – Summarizes Kelso’s unified development code update incorporating LID principles.
• Kirkland Low Impact Development – Details LID elements for stormwater management of new development and redevelopment projects.
• Mountlake Terrace Stormwater and Low Impact Development – Offers resources on LID infrastructure options, LID guidance and checklists, and updated city code incorporating LID.

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Stormwater Rates

For examples of residential wastewater and stormwater utility rates, see Ecology's Washington State Residential Utility Rates Dashboard. Also see the Association of Washington Cities' Tax and User Fee Survey (member login required).

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Recommended Resources

• Georgetown Climate Center Green Infrastructure Toolkit – Identifies the best green infrastructure practices from cities across the country
• United States Environmental Protection Agency Why You Should Consider Green Stormwater Infrastructure for Your Community – Includes opportunities to incorporate GSI into traditional infrastructure.
• Puget Sound Regional Council Green Stormwater Infrastructure Resource – Includes resources that apply statewide.
• Washington State
  • Department of Commerce Incentivizing Low-Impact Development: Beyond Permit Requirements (2020) – Helps jurisdictions create incentives to increase developer use of LID 
  • Department of Ecology Stormwater Funding Requirements – Includes project requirements, resources, and templates for the state's Water Quality Combined Funding Program.