City of Tumwater, WA
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Stormwater FAQs
Expand/Contract Questions and Answers
Sewers and storm drains are two completely separate systems. The sewer system, also known as the sanitary sewer or wastewater sewage system, conveys household, commercial and industrial wastewater through a separate plumbing system into an underground sewer pipe system. Wastewater in the sanitary sewer system is from sources such as water and waste from sinks, toilets, washers and car washes. Discharges to the sanitary sewer system receive extensive treatment and filtration at the LOTT wastewater treatment plant prior to being discharged into Puget Sound. The storm drain system, after limited treatment, discharges directly into the Deschutes River, Percival Creek, infiltrates into groundwater or other body of surface water.
It sounds like a good idea. But during a rainstorm or as snow melts, leaves and trash in the streets are quickly swept into catch basins. Filters or screens installed in front of catch basins could cause leaves and trash to accumulate and clog the grate, preventing proper drainage and causing flooding hazards.
Temporary filters or screens are sometimes placed in front of catch basins located near construction sites. These structures are also known as a best management practice (BMP) and are required to prevent sediment and construction site wastes from entering the storm drain system. Ponding will occur at protected catch basins, causing possible short-term flooding. There are new technologies being developed in the form of filtration or screening devices that can be installed and inserted inside catch basins.In general, you should not add fish or frogs to stormwater ponds, natural ponds or wetlands. Some species are known to threaten native species, and even native animals may spread wildlife diseases from one pond or lake to another. A permit from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is needed to release species into large ponds or water that connects to natural bodies of water.
It is permissible to release fish commonly available in pet stores into small, contained backyard garden ponds if they do not connect with, or occasionally flood into natural water bodies. Aerating small ponds and adding native plants around the edges to attract mosquito-eating birds is recommended.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: (360) 902-2724- No, there are 250 species of mosquitos known in Washington State. Thurston County has six species of mosquitos known to be able to carry WNV. Two common species, Culex pipiens and Culex tarsalis can breed in small amounts of water – such as in ditches, clogged gutters, buckets, cans, birdbaths, tires, tarps, etc. One species tends to stay within on half-mile of where it hatches; the other may fly 20 miles away. Current estimates are that less than one percent of bites from infected mosquitos will result in WNV.
- Yes. There are over 1,400 publicly-owned catch basins that are cleaned at least twice a year with vacuum trucks. Problematic locations throughout the area are cleaned more frequently, because of location or repeated illegal dumping. Open ditches, swales and detention ponds are also part of the area’s storm drain system. These facilities are routinely checked and cleaned of weeds, trash and debris at least once a year.
The stormwater fee pays for the City to maintain the roadways and its storm drains that we all use to help prevent flooding and impacts to homes and businesses from stormwater. Funds are also allocated to various programs, such as Stream Team, to help reduce the impacts of pollutant-laden stormwater on our rivers and streams through education, outreach, and community involvement. The City also engages in numerous Capital Facilities Projects (CFPs) to enhance treatment and reduce the quantity of stormwater coming off our roadways and discharging into rivers and streams. Some of the other important components of the stormwater program include:
- Improvements to stormwater quality through monitoring and reduction of illicit discharges and pollutants
- Public information and education concerning stormwater issues
- Increased maintenance/repair of the City's stormwater system
- Development of stormwater design standards and regulations
- Field inspection/enforcement of these standards
- Construction of stormwater projects
How can I properly dispose of used motor oil, antifreeze, old car batteries, or other potentially hazardous material?
Hazardous materials may be disposed of at HazoHouse in Lacey. HazoHouse is a free service, however, it still costs a lot of money to dispose of these items. Please do your part by reducing the amount of hazardous products you buy and use. This will help protect your health and the environment, too.
For more information on reducing household hazardous products, call (360) 754-4111 or visit the Thurston County Solid Waste website for details.
HazoHouse generally accepts:
Auto products (used motor oil, filters, antifreeze, car batteries, brake fluid); Used motor oil is also accepted at several auto-repair businesses throughout Thurston County.
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- Auto products (used motor oil, filter, antifreeze, car batteries, or brake fluid). Used motor oil is also accepted at several auto-repair businesses throughout Thurston County.
- Oil-based paints and latex paint manufactured before 1989
- Thinners and solvents
- Glues and adhesives
- Batteries (excluding alkaline)
- Solvents and cleaning supplies
- Pool and hobby supplies
- Fluorescent light tubes, yard light bulbs, and their ballasts and household compact fluorescent lights (CFLs)
- Contaminated kerosene and gasoline
- Propane tanks (no need to de-valve, 20lb/5 gal standard barbecue tanks only)
- Products containing mercury (do not break fluorescent bulbs, transport them in their original boxes if possible. Place thermometers in their original containers, too, or in double zip-lock plastic bags.
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- Tumwater's stormwater service fee is based on the amount of impervious surface on each property and is developed using an Equivalent Residential Unity (ERU). Each ERU is equivalent to 3,250 square feet of impervious area. The charges to commercial, industrial, and other properties with large impervious areas will be substantially more than single-family residential properties because they create more runoff.
- In urban areas where much of the natural surface has been replaced by pavement and buildings, the majority of the water from storms runs off these hard surfaces and flows into and through the storm drain system. In addition, flows during dry weather, from individuals washing their cars, draining their pools and over-watering their lawns for example, also flows into the storm drain system. On a typical dry summer day, watering and washing activities can produce hundreds of thousands of gallons of water draining into the system and eventually into our local waterways. During a heavy rainstorm, this flow can increase to millions or even billions of gallons.
Dumping used oil into storm drains is illegal. One gallon of motor oil can ruin a million gallons of fresh water - a year's supply of water for 50 people. To report illegal dumping in Tumwater, call (360) 754-4140. To properly dispose of used, but uncontaminated (mixed with other fluids) motor oil, dispose of it for free at HazoHouse, located at the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center.
The Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center is located at 2418 Hogum Bay Road N.E. in Lacey. From I-5, take Exit 111, head north on Marvin Road, and turn east into the facility entrance.
- At this time we do not recommend treating for mosquitoes. It is more effective to protect yourself from WNV by following the personal protection recommendations. Treatment of any water besides lined garden ponds requires both a permit from the Department of Ecology and a licensed pesticide applicator to do the work.
- No, WNV can only be caught from mosquitoes. The mosquitoes can infect birds, horses and people. It is not spread person-to-person, horse-to-horse, bird-to-bird, bird-to-human, etc. It is only spread by mosquitoes.
Contact the Thurston County Health Department at (360) 754-3355 ext. 7524, for more information on collecting the bird for testing.
West Nile Virus: What about my or my neighbor’s, tarps, tire pile, or other possible breeding grounds?
Small amounts of stagnant water where mosquitoes breed is a concern because there are fewer predators to eat the young mosquitoes. Once the mosquitoes can fly, they can be eaten birds, bats and dragonflies. We encourage everyone to identify areas on their property where stagnant water collects, and either remove the containers, or empty them at least once a week. Encourage other to do the same.
In the case of dumping or unmanaged garbage, contact Community Development at (360) 754-4180. Be aware that enforcement can be a slow process. You may wish to be extra careful to use the recommended personal mosquito precautions – keeping screens in good repair, using mosquito repellent, wearing long sleeves outdoors at dusk, etc.
- Wetlands and “wet” stormwater ponds have natural mosquito predators present. Many aquatic insects eat young mosquitoes, as do salamanders, tadpoles and fish. Birds, bats, dragonflies, salamanders and frogs eat adult mosquitoes. Encourage these predators, and avoid using pesticides that will harm beneficial insects.
Personal
- Wear long sleeves and long pants when going out at dusk or in the early morning.
- Avoid going into mosquito-infested areas at dawn and dusk when the insects are most active.
- Use a mosquito repellent when necessary.
Yard & House
- Repair and use screens in windows and doors.
- Find and reduce the areas in your yard where stagnant water collects such as: tarps and covers, wheelbarrows, toys, buckets, tires, cans, etc.
- Change water in birdbaths, pet dishes, potted plant saucers, animal troughs, wading pools, etc. at least weekly.
- Encourage mosquito predators in your yard. Examples are birds, bats, dragonflies, salamanders, frogs, aquatic insects, and fish.
- Clean out roof gutters so the water flows freely.
- Repair leaky faucets and sprinklers.
Mosquito Repellents – Use Wisely
Not all mosquito repellents are the same — active ingredients differ with varying strengths and effectiveness. The length of protection from mosquito bites varies with the amount of active ingredient, physical activity/perspiration, temperature, water exposure, and other factors. Before selecting a repellent, age and length of time outside should be considered. Once a repellant is chosen, be sure to carefully follow the directions on the label.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has detailed information on insect repellents; see Updated Information regarding Insect Repellents.
The EPA recommends the following precautions when using insect repellents:
- Apply repellents only to exposed skin and/or clothing (as directed on the product label). Do not use under clothing.
- Never use repellents over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
- Do not apply to eyes and mouth, and apply sparingly around ears. When using sprays do not spray directly onto face; spray on hands first and then apply to face.
- Do not allow children to handle the products, and do not apply to children's hands. When using on children, apply to your own hands and then put it on the child.
- Do not spray in enclosed areas. Avoid breathing a repellent spray, do not use near food.
- Use just enough repellent to thinly cover exposed skin and/or clothing. If needed, apply a bit more.
- After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water or bathe. This is particularly important when repellents are used repeatedly in a day or on consecutive days. Also, wash treated clothing before wearing it again.
- If you suspect that you – or your child – are reacting to an insect repellent, discontinue use, wash treated skin, and then call your local poison control center. If/when you go to a doctor, take the repellent with you.
Search for a repellent that is right for you.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has their own search tool to help you choose skin-applied repellent products that will give you the protection you need. To use their handy search tool, please visit the EPA’s website.
For information on DEET and DEET Alternatives for children, please visit the American Academy of Pediatrics website healthychildren.org.
For more info, please call Water Resources (360) 754-4140.
The first rule of medicine is “Do no harm.” The City is approaching West Nile Virus (WNV) in this way. We want to be sure our response does not cause more problems than the virus. We are preparing a phased response that calls for careful monitoring of the virus, and responding prudently to the level of risk. City staff regularly attend regional WNV workgroup meetings to share information that is being collected in the area and working to develop a joint response plan, that will be implemented at the direction of the County Health Department.
In the first – and current – phase, we recommend taking personal protection actions; such as wearing long sleeves, avoiding mosquito areas at dusk, and using repellents. If we reach a stage where humans are at high risk for contracting WNV, we will alert the community and give appropriate recommendations.
- Stormwater is water from rain and snowmelt. As rain and snow falls to earth in agricultural and undeveloped areas, it is either absorbed or it slowly runs off and dissipates. In a growing city like Tumwater, where rooftops and paved areas not only prevent the water from being absorbed, but also help it run off at a much faster rate, problems arise. Unmitigated, the stormwater could accumulate in many areas of the city, causing nuisance flooding and possible threats to public health and safety. Flooding is only a part of the problem. As the rain falls onto our streets and runs off, it carries with it pollutants such as gasoline, oil and heavy metals. Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are washed from lawns and other green spaces. With the passage of time, these pollutants will buildup in our waterways and underground drainage systems, causing significant environmental damage to our streams, rivers and lakes. These pollutants may also threaten our drinking water supply.
Storm drains are for the sole purpose of draining stormwater from rain or melting snow. Knowingly or unknowingly dumping trash, pollutants and debris into catch basins is illegal. If it's a neighbor, they may not understand the catch basin's direct connection to the area’s surface waters. If you have an amicable relationship with him/her, it may be just a matter of informing and making them aware of its environmental impact. If this doesn't work, call (360) 754-4140 for assistance. Visit Spill Reporting for more information.
- A catch basin is a curbside receptacle whose function is to convey water from streets and other urban surfaces into the storm drain system. The design of this drainage structure includes a sump that captures and temporarily stores some pollutants such as oils and sediment. Regular maintenance to clean out the sump removes the stored pollutants and prevents them from washing further into the storm drain system and into receiving waters such as the Deschutes River.
- A storm drainage easement is a legal document, which allows the City access to the stormwater infrastructure on your property, both during construction and for future maintenance. Granting an easement to the City does not reduce the size of one's property, but it does create some limitations within the easement area.
- Impervious surface means those disturbed or hard-surfaced areas that either prevent or retard the natural entry of water into the soil. Rooftops, buildings, streets, parking lots, sidewalks, asphalt, concrete, driveways, patios, artificial turf and storage areas are all examples of impervious surfaces. These improvements affect natural infiltration, create more runoff, increase the rate of runoff and alter runoff patterns of stormwater that drains from an area.
It is a mosquito-borne virus that usually produces mild flu-like symptoms such as a fever, headaches and body aches. After having WNV, immunity develops – in other words, you can only get it once. Although rare, the infection can become severe and cause West Nile encephalitis, which, in some cases, can be fatal. People who are older or immune-compromised are at great risk for these complications.
From the first detection in the United States in 1999, through August 19, 2007, there were 24,551 human cases of WNV-related illness in the United States reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including 981 fatalities. This compares to approximately 65,000 deaths each year from the flu.
In Washington, WNV was first diagnosed in humans during 2006 in three individuals known to have acquired the disease within the state. As of August 15, 2007, there have been no in-state human infections identified; however three horses have been confirmed positive with WNV. Although vaccines and booster shots are available for horses only, none of the horses diagnosed were treated prior to the infection.- Paint thinner and paint products, used motor oil and antifreeze, pesticides and fertilizers, sediments containing heavy metals, Styrofoam cups and paper trash, human and animal feces, golf balls, dirty diapers and dead animals are a few of the many pollutants found in the system on a regular basis.
- All developed property within the City of Tumwater will pay the stormwater service fee. That includes houses, schools, public facilities, churches and businesses. The only exceptions are streets within the City. These areas are excluded because they are designed to collect and carry stormwater runoff.
You may not have a problem, but the runoff generated from your property contributes to problems elsewhere in the City. This program recognizes that everyone contributes to the problem (runoff and pollution), and everyone will share in the results of the stormwater program (improved water quality, reduced flooding, unimpaired access to roads, etc.). Stormwater has a public benefit of environmental stewardship and protecting our drinking water supply.