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:  Public Works