Maintenance
We all know that water runs downhill. In a City, the path it takes to get there is not usually a stream. More often it is a pipe, ditch, pond, or some other piece of infrastructure that has to be maintained. All these things together are know as a stormwater system.
Olympia's system includes over 130 miles of pipe, 3,000 storm drains, 40 public ponds, 60 privately-owned ponds, many miles of road-side ditches, and even a stream that runs thousands of feet through a pipe downtown!
City maintenance workers use everything from shovels to big machines to keep the stormwater system maintained and working properly. Common work includes:
- Cleaning pipes and drains with large vacuum pump "Vactor" trucks
- Removing sediment from ditches and ponds with backhoes and excavators
- Cutting tree roots out of pipes with special cutting machines
- Fixing small drainage problems by moving catch basins and installing new ones
- Fixing big drainage problems through big Capital Improvement Projects
- Using a TV camera to inspect underground pipes and assess their condition
Homeowners can also do their part to keep things flowing. Did you know that most stormwater ponds in Olympia are privately-owned? It's true! Most neighborhood ponds are owned either by a homeowners association or in-common by all lot owners in the neighborhood.
City staff are here to give technical assistance on pond maintenance and clarify ownership and maintenance responsibilities. Give us a call!
- For flooding emergencies call 360.752.8588 Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (After hours call 360.753.3333)
- For general maintenance questions call 360.753.8588
- For questions about stormwater ponds call 360.753.8346
Need More Information? Contact the Public Works office
Physical Address: 924 7th Ave. SE, Suite A
Mailing Address: PO Box 1967, Olympia, WA 98507
Download printer-friendly (PDF) directions to our office
Hours: Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Phone: 360.753.8588
Email: Publicworks@ci.olympia.wa.us