Stormwater

The City's Public Works Maintenance Department, Stormwater Division, 
is responsible for thStormwatere operation and maintenance of stormwater facilities. Stormwater facilities include catch basins, dry wells, storm drain lines, percolation trenches, and swales. Additionally, the Division is responsible for cleaning City streets with the use of street sweeping machinery.

What Is Stormwater?

Stormwater runoff is the water that flows off roofs, driveways, parking lots, streets, and other hard surfaces during rainstorms. Rather than being absorbed into the ground, it pours into ditches, culverts, catch basins, and storm sewers. A storm drain maintenance program is required to ensure ditches, culverts, catch basins and storm sewers are kept clean of sand, silt, and other debris that may plug the system.

Public Education & Publication Participation

The City works with the City of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland (Quad Cities) through the Franklin Conservation District to provide education to our area schools. If you are interested in setting up a session in your classroom, please work through your schools' representative to contract the Education Coordinator at the Franklin Conservation District.

The Quad Cities partner to provide education outreach at various community events throughout the year such as:

  • Spring Home and Garden Show
  • National Night Out
  • Riverfest

Stormwater Design, Construction & Post Construction Management

The City has adopted the use of the Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington in its most current version. For stormwater design, construction, and post-construction management within the City, please follow this manual as well as the City's Municipal Code and Standards.

Non-Vegetated Filtration Swale Stormwater Effectiveness Study

In 2023, The City completed a partnership with other eastern Washington Stormwater Permitees to complete a study on the use of non-vegetated swales for filtration. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a non-vegetated filtration swale BMP.  The project was funded through a Department of Ecology Grant of Regional Statewide Significance (GROSS).  For more information regarding our project please use the following links: 

Final Technical Evaluation Report 
Final Fact Sheet