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Report flooding, drainage, and water quality problems
Where is your drainage or water quality problem located?
- If this is an emergency, call 911. At night, on weekends and holidays, use the 24/7 Roads Helpline at 206-477-8100 or 1-800-527-6237.
- Report drainage and water quality concerns in unincorporated King County using this report form.
- If your problem is within a city area, go to the city referrals page to find contact information for that city.
Unsure where your problem is located?
Enter the location into the map on this report form and it will tell you where your problem is located.
If you're not sure where to report a flooding, drainage, or water quality problems, see the tables below for more information.
Drainage concerns
| Where is the problem? | Agency to contact | Contact information | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| King County maintained right-of-way (measured 30 feet from the center of the road) |
King County Road Services Division |
206-477-8100 |
Clogged culverts in a roadway, or overgrown roadside drainage ditches. Erosion, or dirt washing away from a construction project into road right-of-way. |
| Drainage problem is on private property |
King County Stormwater Services |
or |
Water pooling in the front or back yards, flooding issues. |
| King County stormwater facility damaged causing drainage problems for neighborhood |
King County Stormwater Services |
or |
A stormwater facility (pond, pipe, vault, etc.) is overflowing and water is coming into the roadways or property. |
Water quality concerns
| What is the problem? | Agency to contact | Contact information | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business practices are polluting water |
King County Stormwater Services |
or |
Pollution from business activities. |
| Sewage or other pollution spills to stormwater or surface water |
King County Stormwater Services |
or |
Motor oil storage is leaking into a storm drain. |
| Illegal connections to the stormwater pipes, vaults, etc. | King County Stormwater Services |
or |
Parts wash sink is plumbed to a storm drain. |
| Sewage flowing from broken sanitary sewer lines |
King County Wastewater Treatment |
206-477-5371 |
Broken sewage pipe or septic leak into storm drains. |
| Sewage odor or septic system spill from private property |
King County Public Health |
206-477-8050 |
Broken sewage pipe, septic leak or failing drain field flowing into storm drains. |
| Drinking water concerns from private wells |
King County Public Health |
206-477-8050 |
Discolored, smelly, or water quality concerns. |
| Water quality problems within cities |
Your city |
Contact information varies by city | Discolored, smelly, or water quality concerns. |
| Concerns about water quality at swimming beaches |
King County Lakes Program |
Swim Beach Home - King County |
Most cyanobacterial blooms occur during warm summer and early fall months but in Washington, toxic blooms also occur during colder winter months. |
| Industrial and commercial discharges to the sanitary or combined sewer systems |
King County Industrial Waste Program |
206-477-5300 |
All businesses that generate and dispose of industrial wastewater to the King County sewer system must get approval prior to discharging. |
Spills
| What is the problem? | Agency to contact | Contact information | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illegal dumping |
King County |
or |
Trash, construction debris, and abandoned vehicles found on public or private property. |
| Polluting substance in natural waterway |
Washington State Department of Ecology AND Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - National Response Center |
Washington Dept. of Ecology: EPA National Response Center; |
Large oil spill in Puget Sound, lakes, or streams. |
| Spills to the stormwater drainage system |
King County Stormwater Services |
or |
Cooking oil, used motor oil, grass clippings dumped into storm drains. |
| Spills into the sanitary sewer system |
Your local sewer agency |
Hazardous or shop waste flushed down a toilet or sink. | |
| Vessel discharges |
Washington State Department of Ecology |
800-258-5990 | Sewage holding tanks or ballast water flushed into local waters. |
| Oil and hazardous material spills |
Washington State Department of Ecology |
800-258-5990 | Engine malfunctions, contaminated bilge water. |
| Large oil spills in Puget Sound, lakes, or streams |
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)- National Response Center AND |
EPA National Response Center: Oil Spill Task Force: |
May be from boats, manufacturing plants. |
| Hazardous material spills |
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - National Response Center AND Oil Spill Task Force |
EPA National Response Center: 800-424-8802 Oil Spill Task Force: 800-OILS(6457)-911 |
There are no minimum amounts of spills to report. Clean up may be less costly than liability. |
| Traffic-related spills |
911 Emergency Services or |
Washington State Department of Ecology: |
Any spills on state highways or Washington State Department of Transportation properties that may impact the safety of the traveling public or the environment. |
Septic system concerns
| What is the problem? | Agency to contact | Contact information | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Septic system problems |
Public Health- Seattle & King County |
206-477-8050 |
Installation/maintenance, hauling and disposal of waste, septic discharges. |
| Finding septic system records |
Public Health- Seattle & King County | 206-477-8050 |
Permit violations
Need to check if a permit is on file for a property? Visit the King County Permitting Portal.
| What is the problem? | Agency to contact | Contact information | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| The work being done is not permitted | King County Department of Local Services, Code Enforcement Division |
or |
Clearing and grading without a permit. Illegally placed mobile homes, or factory assembled structures. Storage of junk cars. Zoning code violations. |
Erosion concerns
| What is the problem? | Agency to contact | Contact information | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erosion from permitted construction and development sites both in and out of road right-of-way | King County Department of Local Services (DLS)—Code Enforcement |
or |
Soils running off job sites onto roads. |
| Erosion from utility work in the road right-of-way |
King County Department of Local Services—Roads Services | 206-477-8400 |
Soils running off job sites onto roads. |
| Landslide and erosion problems |
King County Stormwater Services |
206-477-4811 or Submit a report form |
Soils, rocks, and vegetation spilled onto roads, culverts washed out. |
Hazardous conditions
| What is the problem? | Agency to contact | Contact information | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazardous conditions | King County Department of Local Services (DLS)—Code Enforcement Division |
or |
Accumulation of junk and debris; livestock density and manure management problems; open wells and other hazardous conditions; open-to-entry or dangerous buildings; substandard housing. |
Can’t find the right agency?
Call 206-477-4811 or report the problem online.
What happens if a violation is found?
We will require responsible persons to resolve drainage and water quality problems and/or implement on-site best management practices (BMPs) as outlined in our Stormwater Pollution Prevention Manual.
We provide education and technical assistance to fix problems. If the problem is still not resolved, enforcement action may be used that meet the Water Quality Code (K.C.C.9.12) and/or Drainage Code (K.C.C.9.04).
Why do I have to give my name and contact information?
We may need to contact you to find out more details about the problem. We may determine the concern should be reported to another agency and we will want to provide you with this information. We can also keep you informed of the results of our investigation.