Drainage and Water Quality Complaint Investigation Line
(206) 296-1900
| Do You Need to File a Complaint? |
Click here if you are in an incorporated part of King County |
Click here if you are in an unincorporated part of King County | Questions and AnswersWhat is the Drainage and Water Quality Complaint Investigation line for?To respond to citizens concerns regarding stormwater runoff and surface water quality problems. To investigate and determine the appropriate response to drainage and water quality complaints in order to protect surface, ground and stormwater. King County Water and Land Resources will address complaints on both residential and commercial property in the unincorporated areas of King County. Water and Land Resources will investigate all drainage and water quality complaints it receives unless the complaint obviously falls under another agency's jurisdiction as outlined in the table below. WLR will provide technical assistance in resolving problems whenever feasible. If it is obvious that a complaint should be addressed by another agency, WLR will forward the complaint. If the complaint is forwarded, WLR can, through mutual agreement, offer support to the other agency to resolve the problem. What happens if a violation is found?Water and Land Resources will require responsible persons to resolve drainage and water quality problems and/or implement on-site best management practices (BMP's) as outlined in King County's Storm Water Pollution Control Manual. Water and Land Resources will rely, as much as possible, on education and technical assistance in gaining compliance with the Water Pollution Code (K.C.C.9.12) and Drainage Code (K.C.C.9.04). WLR will take enforcement action only when there is a clear and/or flagrant violation of the Water Pollution Code or Drainage Code. Do you need help finding a contractor or engineer?The firms on these lists have expressed interest in being included on the County's list. King County provides these lists as a service to our customers. King County does not endorse any particular contractor, nor do we guarantee the quality of the services provided. Additional firms can be found in the yellow pages. Contractors or engineers that would like to be added or removed from a list should click here, or call the complaint investigation hot line at 206-296-1900. Contractors that perform drainage maintenance services. Engineers that can help with drainage problems or questions. Which agency is responsible for which kind of problem?
| Type of Problem | Responsible Agency |
|---|
| Erosion from permitted construction and development sites both in and out of road right-of-way |
King County Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) - Land Use Services Division |
| Erosion from non-permitted construction and development activities |
DDES - Land Use Services Division - Code Enforcement |
| Erosion from franchised utility work in the road right-of-way |
King County Department of Transportation - Roads Services Division |
| Polluted discharges other than sediment (non-erosion measures) on construction and development sites |
King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) - Water and Land Resources Division |
| Spills entering the sanitary sewer system |
Local sewer district |
| Industrial and commercial discharges to the sanitary or combined sewer systems |
DNRP - Wastewater Treatment Division - Planning and Compliance Section - Industrial Waste Program |
| Sewage discharge from broken sanitary sewer lines or equipment malfunction |
DNRP - Wastewater Treatment Division and appropriate sewer district |
| Sewage discharges, including gray water, other than from a sewer line |
Public Health - Seattle & King County - Environmental Health Services Division |
| Septic system installation/maintenance, haulers and disposal |
Public Health - Seattle & King County - Environmental Health Services Division |
| Boat bilge and head discharge to state waters within three miles |
U.S. Coast Guard and Washington State Department of Ecology |
| Discharges from commercial and public swimming pools and spas |
Public Health - Seattle & King County - Environmental Health Services Division |
| Potable (drinking) water or well contamination |
Public Health - Seattle & King County - Environmental Health Services Division |
| Solid waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities |
Washington State Department of Ecology |
| NPDES permitted businesses |
Washington State Department of Ecology |
| Restaurants- solid waste handling and runoff, grease traps, rendering boxes |
Public Health - Seattle & King County - Environmental Health Services Division |
| Landfill issues, transfer stations, composting facilities, recycling facilities, waste haulers |
Public Health - Seattle & King County - Environmental Health Services Division |
| Large oil spills |
U.S. Coast Guard, Washington State Department of Ecology and Washington State Emergency Management |
| Traffic related spills |
Washington State Department of Ecology, DDES - Fire Marshall Division or local fire department |
| Livestock densities, manure management, and farm BMPs |
Washington State Department of Ecology and DDES - Land Use Services Division - Code Enforcement |
| Medical waste |
Public Health - Seattle & King County - Environmental Health Services Division |
| Radioactive Material |
Washington State Department of Health |
| All other water quality problems in unincorporated King County |
DNRP - Water and Land Resources Division |
| All other water quality problems within incorporated areas |
City agency | For questions about King County Stormwater, please contact Mary Lear.
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