County commissioners are considering an ordinance to reduce pollution flowing from unincorporated Thurston County by cutting down on dumping in storm drains. It is illegal to put anything but rainwater into a storm drain; materials that are illegally dumped include acid, trash, motor oil, dog waste, and all types of non-rain water, including from vehicles being washed.
The ordinance, which is scheduled for a public hearing and possible adoption Tuesday, includes a list of 34 prohibited stormwater discharges, said Jim Bachmeier, county water resources manager.
Under the new ordinance, residents wouldn’t automatically be fined for allowing vehicle wash water or a sandwich to fall into a storm drain, he said.
“Our first part of the compliance is really to help raise awareness and education,” Bachmeier said.
If someone violates the law and the county pursues the claim, the person responsible could be given written notice that includes required corrective actions and a date to fix the violation.
People could be fined if their dumping posed a hazard to public health or caused irreversible damage, or if they have had a similar violation in the past two years. Illegal dumping is a misdemeanor; the maximum penalty is a $1,000 fine and/or 90 days in jail, according to the county.
Findings in the written notice, as well as any fines, could be appealed.
The ordinance also would prohibit all connections to county-owned stormwater facilities and using stormwater ponds for other purposes; require commercial and industrial facilities to take measures to prevent spills; and outline the steps involved in assessing and appealing penalties.
In 2007, the county was issued a permit from the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, required by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Federal Clean Water Act. Tumwater, Lacey and Olympia all have passed similar ordinances aimed at curbing stormwater pollution in the past year.
Parking on one’s lawn is one way to keep vehicle wash water from entering the stormwater system, Bachmeier said. People also can position their hoses so they block water from entering storm drains. Commercial car washes are environmentally friendly because they often recycle their water, he said.
Nate Hulings: 360-754-5476 nhulings@theolympian.com
