Sumner's Environment

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STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

What is Stormwater?

Stormwater is an important part of keeping the water we need clean. Because of stormwater, Puget Sound Starts Here in Sumner, in our yards, on our streets and on our sidewalks.

Wastewater goes down your household drains (the blue arrow in the diagram). It gets processed at the Wastewater Treatment Facility so that our household waste does not pollute the rivers.

Stormwater is what runs down our pavement (sidewalks, roads, driveways, etc.) and into the storm drains. These are the green arrows on the diagram. These paths feed right into the White and Puyallup Rivers without any treatment.

Common Hazards

If you have residue from oil leaks on your road or driveway, at the first rainfall that oil pollution goes right into the river that we play in, fish in, and enjoy. Call it a mini oil spill.

When your pet does its business on the sidewalk or in your yard and you fail to pick it up, that same next rainfall will also wash bits of that waste right into the river, similar to letting raw sewage go into our water systems.

When you overfertilize your lawn, those dangerous chemicals get washed away with rain or sprinklers. That runoff goes into the stormwater drain and into the river.

When you wash your car on pavement, all the suds and soap and oil you wash off your car drains right into the storm drain and into the rivers. In fact, after charity groups hold car washes on a Saturday, you can often see the suds in the river itself! .

Easy Solutions

There are easy ways to avoid these problems:

Fix all car oil leaks promptly.
Pick up after your pets and dispose waste properly in the garbage or flush down a toilet.
Avoid overfertilizing lawns. Try organic alternatives or the Bonney Good Sumner Grow soil amendment from the Wastewater Treatment Facility. If you must use chemical fertilizers, be careful to follow the directions and use the smallest amount possible.
When washing cars (especially charity car washes), wash on gravel or grass. The water then goes into the ground which naturally filters all the pollutants out. Or, check out the charity car wash kit to keep your event Clean & Green.