|
Walla Walla County Stormwater
Help us keep Walla Walla County facilities clean and our creeks healthy. To report illicit discharges (anything entering a storm drain that isn’t stormwater) call (509) 524-2727
Walla Walla County Stormwater Operations & Maintenance Plan
Stormwater_permit_presentation provided at public meeting 4-27-11
Stormwater meeting press release 4-21-2011
Stormwater Utility FAQ
Exemption Application
Credit Application
Stormwater Title 11
Right-click and select save as to download files
2012 SWMP and Annual Report
Right-click and select save as to download files
Right-click and select "Save Target As"on the document
below to download
(Any of the documents in .pdf format require Adobe. Click the Adobe icon below to download Adobe Acrobat.)
Why is Stormwater Important?
Today, we know that urban stormwater runoff is the largest remaining contributor of water quality pollution to the urban waterways of the United States. The problem is magnified when development occurs without addressing stormwater pollution, which puts additional stress on the environment. When land is converted from its natural state to one of parking lots, buildings, lawns, streets, and sidewalks, rainwater that once soaked into the ground now flows over the hard, or impervious, surfaces and becomes urban stormwater runoff. The water picks up pollutants such as dirt, fertilizers, pesticides, oil, and bacteria on its way to the nearest storm drain or creek. Unlike sewage, which is collected and treated at a wastewater treatment plant, anything that flows into a storm drain empties directly into the nearest stream or creek, normally without any treatment.
What Can You Do to Help?
What Is The County Doing To Help?
It’s a Community Effort
We all need to do our part to keep the stormwater clean, because the stormwater that reaches the streams and rivers or infiltrates through the ground and into the aquifer may contain pollutants. The Columbia, Snake, Touchet and Walla Walla Rivers plus Mill Creek and their tributaries are important waterways to the residents of the county, both for the aesthetic value and the financial value they bring to the area. Local residents rely on ground water and surface water for drinking water. If stormwater or spills are allowed to filter through the ground polluted and untreated, the pollutants may accumulate and make the aquifer unusable as a drinking water source. This in turn means higher costs to the residents if the aquifer must be cleaned and treated to become usable again.
A major part of the Stormwater Management Plan process is the inclusion of public comments and participation. The Plan is not meant to be a burden on the residents of the Cities and the County, it is meant to be a tool that aids in protecting the quality of our surface waters. We want to encourage the public to become actively involved in the planning process.
If you have any questions, please contact Joy Bader at the Walla Walla County Public Works Department 509-524-2727
|
