Spills and Drainage

How to report a spill or illicit discharges

Call the Spill Hotline at 425-806-6750 to report a spill or illicit discharge. This phone number is answered day and night. Learn what qualifies as a spill. 

Why reporting spills matters 

Spills to our roads and storm drains are carried through our stormwater drainage system to local streams where they cause problems for people, pets, and the environment. We need to know about spills so we can try to contain them before they reach our local streams and other bodies of water.

Illicit discharge
Spill Hotline 425-806-6750 (PNG)
  1. Examples of spills
  2. Drainage issues
  3. About stormwater runoff

Examples of what to reportOil flowing to storm drain - portrait

Pollutants from these activities end up washing down Bothell's storm drains and emptying into the nearest body of water. Please call the Spill Hotline at 425-806-6750 if you see any of these:  

  • Vehicle fluids leaking onto the street
  • Soapy water entering the street from washing cars, sidewalks, buildings, or awnings
  • Paint, motor oil, or other contaminant on the street
  • Restaurants dumping food or grease into storm drains
  • Mobile businesses dumping wastewater into storm drains (from things like carpet cleaning)
  • Blowing debris or yard waste into the street
  • Chlorinated swimming pool water drained into the street
  • Landscaping dirt piles in the street
  • Concrete washout from home improvement or construction projects
  • Mud tracked out into the street or muddy water entering the street, typically from a construction site
  • Construction sites without effective erosion control measures in place

Is it pollution?

Learn about iron bacteria, a common occurrence that you might think is pollution because of how it looks, but is actually a naturally occurring phenomenon that is not harmful to water.

Thank you for helping protect local streams!

Does your storm system need maintenance or repairs?

If City of Bothell staff notified you that your storm system needs maintenance and/or repairs, here is some information about drainage system maintenance service contractors (sometimes referred to as vactor vendors) with a business license and city endorsement that permits them to perform services within Bothell's city limits. We update this list every August. City of Bothell has no affiliation with the contractors and does not guarantee the quality of service or otherwise endorse any of the contractors.