Prevent Stormwater Pollution

Clean water is essential for healthy habitats for fish and wildlife. Our daily actions and pollutant generating activities can have a big impact on local water quality and the health of Puget Sound. 

Water Quality

The quality of water impacts your quality of life. Inside Woodinville city limits there are six drainage basins, some with salmon-bearing streams, several wetlands, Lake Leota, and State designated shoreline areas on the Sammamish River and Little Bear Creek. The City's Comprehensive Plan calls for the protection of the quality and quantity of water in waterways, wetlands, flood plains and watersheds from degradation. One way to protect these environmental amenities is to protect the City's storm water system by managing runoff, erosion, sedimentation, aquatic habitat, and water quality.

What Can We Do?

Scoop, Bag, and Trash Pet Waste

Picking up poop is NOT the best part of having a pet, but it’s your responsibility. Whether your pet goes in your yard or out on a walk, you’ve got to scoop it up and throw the bag in the trash. Bacteria and harmful organisms in pet waste travels easily in the rain.

Pet waste gets carried to storm drains and pollutes the nearest creeks or surface waters. Learn more about how to best dispose of pet waste.

Identify and Fix Vehicle Leaks

Pollution from cars has a large impact on the health of our local streams and waterbodies. You can diagnose your leak and see what you can do yourself with help from the Don’t Drip and Drive campaign, an online tool to identify the color and location of your leak and assist in diagnosing problems. Alternatively, you can visit a car care professional to identify and fix the leak.   

Natural Yard Care

Excessive nutrients from fertilizers and chemicals from pesticides run off into stromwater when it rains. We can help protect local water quality in the way we care for our yards and lawns! The 5 steps to natural yard care include:

1. Building healthy soils
2. Planting right for your site
3. Practicing smart watering
4. Reconsidering the use of pesticides, and
5. Natural lawn care through mulching mowers, aeration, and composting.

Visit NaturalYardCare.org, a great online resource to find information on implementing the 5 steps.

Storm Drain Marking

Help raise awareness about stormwater pollution by contacting us to mark your storm drains. By marking storm drains we can better educate ourselves and our neighbors about the direct connection between storm drains and the water quality of our local creeks, wetlands, the Sammamish River, and the Puget Sound watershed. The City of Woodinville has Puget Sound Starts Here markers to remind people that our daily actions and pollution to storm drains directly impact local water quality.

Septic System Maintenance

Improperly maintained septic systems can leak untreated sewage into your yard. This pollution can contaminate nearby streams or lakes and groundwater with bacteria and nutrients that contribute to algae growth. You can ensure your septic system is running properly by looking up records of your system type and location if you are unsure and practicing inspections at least every three years and maintenance when necessary. 

Look up your septic system records with Public Health - Seattle & King County.