Surface Water Management

The Public Works Department works to ensure the continuous operation and performance of surface water and stormwater systems in the City of Woodinville. Managing stormwater is important to reduce flooding in our streets and prevent property damage. Stormwater management also protects our local creeks and the Sammamish River by minimizing the impacts of pollution on local water quality.

What is Stormwater?

Stormwater is rain and other precipitation including hail, sleet, and snow. When stormwater falls on hard or paved surfaces like roads and parking lots, it cannot soak into the ground. These types of hard or paved surfaces are called impervious surfaces. Water that falls on these surfaces becomes stormwater runoff.

Stormwater runoff collects pollutants from car fluids and debris from roads, industrial activities, pet waste, dirt and leaves, trash and litter, chemicals, spills, and many more sources and flows downhill into storm drains. Storm drains collect stormwater runoff and empty directly into our creeks, wetlands, and the Sammamish River. These waterways feed into Lake Washington and the Puget Sound.