Stormwater Inspections and Maintenance

A stormwater system is any part of an engineered drainage system that collects rainwater. Some examples of stormwater systems include:

• detention ponds 
• underground vaults 
• bioswales 
• catch basins

We inspect your system to ensure that it's functioning properly and to keep us in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

In Bothell, these facilities protect your property from flooding and drain directly into our lakes, streams, and wetlands without treatment. This means that any pollutants in the water can cause many problems for our local community and can make contact with the water a health risk. For these reasons, owners are required to maintain their storm systems annually (BMC 18.04.270)

The City of Bothell will request the property owner or homeowners association to provide:

• Current property owner information with contact person, address, and phone number if it has changed in the past six months.
• The contact person should be the Property Manager/Landlord, Homeowners Association President, or Owners representing all affected properties.
• This information needs to include full name, address, phone number, and email. 

If contact information changes, please let us know so we can update our records.

If City of Bothell staff notified you that your storm system needs maintenance and/or repairs, whether after an urgent response or through a routine inspection, you may need to hire a contractor to do the work. Here is some information about drainage system maintenance service contractors with a current City of Bothell business license 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 quality of service or otherwise endorse any of the contractors. 

Labor & Industries also has helpful tips for hiring a contractor.

The City highly recommends you hire of a professional licensed contractor who is qualified to perform the necessary work on site. You can see a list of contractors licensed to do this kind of work in Bothell's city limits at www.bothellwa.gov/vactorvendors. 

Most work orders need to be completed within 30 days of receipt in order to comply with municipal code. If any extensive work is necessary, contact our lead inspector to talk about arrangements or possible extensions. Penalties for not complying may result in fines, appearance before the Hearing Examiner, or reimbursement for the City having to complete the work in emergency situations.

Maintenance will depend on the type of system in your care and the surrounding conditions in your community. Establishing a maintenance schedule is the best way to ensure your system is functioning properly.

Bothell has two surface water inspectors available to answer your questions. Please let us know if you'd like one of them to contact you.

In most cases, whatever goes into public storm drains in Bothell flows through storm pipes or open channels, then discharges into streams, lakes, rivers, and eventually Puget Sound. Unlike sewage, stormwater doesn't stop at a treatment facility along the way, which is why it's so important to make sure pollutants stay out of the storm system. 

Here's a good rule of thumb: If you wouldn't want to swim in it or let your pets drink it, keep it out of your storm system. 

Remember...nothing but rain down the drain!

Call our 24/7 Spill Hotline at 425-806-6750.

No. Even if a product is biodegradable, it could still be toxic to aquatic life. Many biodegradable products aren't designed to break down in water the same way they do in soil. Whatever enters a storm drain in Bothell flows, untreated, to the nearest stream, lake, or river. 

Here's a good rule of thumb: If you wouldn't want to swim in it or let your pet drink it, make sure it doesn't go down your storm drain.

Remember...nothing but rain down the drain!