Stormwater Utility The Stormwater Utility provides for the collection and treatment of stormwater received from residential, commercial and industrial uses.
The wastewater system has 65 miles of stormwater mains. The cost of stormwater services for residential customers is $6.00 per month.
Above Right: City's Stormwater System Map. Click to View More Information Use the "zoom" feature of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view specific areas.
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The Stormwater Utility was formed in 2003 primarily to fund capital projects which relieve flooding, protect health and safety, and foster economic growth.
NATURAL YARD CARE GUIDE Our yards are our outdoor homes: fun, beautiful, great places for relaxing. But in taking care of them, we often use water inefficiently, produce a lot of yard waste, and overuse chemicals that are bad for the environment and our family's health.
The good news is, by making simple changes in how we care for our yards we can:
Save money on water, waste disposal, and chemicals Save time - working with nature is easier in the long run Protect our family's health by reducing contact with chemicals And - protect the environment.
Find out more with the Lawn Care Guide available below.
NATURAL YARD CARE GUIDE
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Amendments to PAMC to address Stormwater
Amendments to PAMC Titles 11, 13 and 15 required to comply with the NPDES Phase 2 Stormwater Permit and address development standard consistencies.
Proposed Changes
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The first reading of these ordinances was held on June 2, 2009. The public hearing was also opened and was continued to the next City Council meeting on June 16, 2009.
DO YOU USE WATER....?
WELL, THE RULES THEY ARE A CHANGING !
NEW STATE WATER REGULATIONS COMING IN AUGUST
ARE YOU READY?
What do car washing, lawn watering, land development and stormwater have in common?
They are all subject to new State regulations beginning in August of this year!
The City of Port Angeles is required by the State of Washington to implement and enforce new regulations regarding these and many other ways that we dispose of water from our streets, buildings, homes, sidewalks, vacant land, and yards.
These new regulations will affect businesses, builders and individuals. Find out how this affects YOU and what changes you will need to make.
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY - CAR WASHING FAQs
The Washington State Department of Ecology has provided answers to frequently asked questions about residential car washing and stormwater. Info available below.
DOE Residential Car Washing & Stormwater
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Presentations were made on June 10 and 11 in City Hall. Second Public Hearing will be on Tuesday, June 16 at 7:00 p.m., or soon thereafter, in City Council Chambers in City Hall.
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Stormwater - it's much more than just a lot of Rain!
NPDES Permit - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Permit
SWPPP - Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan - Plan to control erosion off of construction sites larger than 1 acre
BMP - Best Management Practices. Activities or structural solutions to prevent pollutants from entering stormwater
Source Control BMP - An activity done to prevent pollutants from entering stormwater. An example is a drip pan placed under a car when changing the oil.
Flow Control - A requirement to control both the volume and rate of release of stormwater to prevent stream erosion.
LID - Low Impact Development. Practices like rain gardens and permeable pavement which allow rainwater to infiltrate on the site.
Illicit Discharges - Any non stormwater discharge into the City's stormwater system
CATCH BASIN MAINTENANCE - How You Can Help Melting snow and heavy rainstorms can rapidly lead to sand, leaves, and debris covering catch basins and blocking the flow of stormwater, resulting in flooding on streets and/or nearby driveways.
Residents can help by removing debris off of catch basin grates at street corners in their neighborhood. Any assistance the citizens of Port Angeles can provide in keeping catch basins open and free of debris during storm events will be very much appreciated.
~ Thank you from the Public Works & Utilities Department ~
What is Stormwater? Stormwater is rainwater or snowmelt that does not soak into the ground or evaporate following a storm.
Stormwater runs of off surfaces such as roofs, lawns, paved streets, and parking lots.
Stormwater Flier To keep you better informed, a information flier was included in February 2008 utility billing statements. This flier covers information included on this web page.
Just click the graphic to view. Any questions? Just let us know!
History of Stormwater in Port Angeles
Prior to settlement in the Port Angeles area, stormwater soaked into the ground and/or flowed to creeks that discharged into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the harbor, or local ponds and wetlands. The area at that time was mostly wooded, with trees, brush, and other vegetation intercepting precipitation and preventing erosion during most storms. Pre-development pollutants consisted mainly of sediments eroded during major storm events.
As the Port Angeles area developed, ditches were constructed to capture runoff from roads. Bridges and culverts were built where stream crossings were desired.
Domestic animal wastes, sewage, added erosion sediments, and other pollutants began to enter the creeks. Further development added pavement, curbs, catch basins, and pipes. In some cases, combined sewers were built to convey both sanitary sewage and stormwater runoff directly into the harbor.
Some of these pipes remain in service in the older sections of Port Angeles, although the combined wastewater is now conveyed to the wastewater treatment plant during most storm events. For more information, visit our Combined Sewer Overflow Information webpage....
As development continued to occur, levels of pollution from human activities, buildings, roads, vehicles, and pesticides increased in the now-urban stormwater. Impacts on drinking waters, fish, wildlife, and humans became a concern. In response to reduced water quality, Federal, State, and local stormwater legislation began to be enacted.
In the 1950's, the City of Port Angeles' storm drain catchbasins were fitted with sediment traps and oil separation tees. These helped to reduce the amount of pollutants transported to the creeks and marine waters. Improvements to sanitary and combined sewer facilities continued to be made as well.
Recent Federal and State regulations have increased the level of control and responsibility that municipalities must take for their stormwater systems.
What Currently Happens to Stormwater in Port Angeles? In most areas of Port Angeles stormwater is collected in catchbasins located in paved areas. Stormwater flows from the catchbasins into underground pipes that carry it a nearby waterbody, such as a creek or the harbor.
Stormwater is also transported in roadside ditches or culverts, and in some areas may enter the combined sewer system and be transported to the wastewater treatment plant.
What is a Watershed? A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that drains off of it goes into the same place. Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. They cross county, state, and national boundaries. No matter where you are, you're in a watershed.
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The Port Angeles watershed is just under 27,000 acres in size and includes the City of Port Angeles, part of Clallam County, and a small part of Olympic National Park.
What are Impervious Surfaces?
Impervious surfaces are hard surfaces that cause water to run off in greater quantities or at an increased rate of flow from that prior to development.
Common impervious surfaces include, but are not limited to, roofs, walkways, patios, driveways, parking lots, and roads. Impervious surfaces are found throughout developed areas and provide one way to estimate stormwater runoff.
Why is Stormwater a Concern? Stormwater in urban areas can become polluted by litter, dirt, bacteria, chemicals, and oils that it picks up along the way to receiving waters.
When polluted stormwater reaches a water body it can have a harmful impact on the plants and animals in and around the water. It can also affect humans who swim or fish in the water, or whose drinking water comes from the water body.
Stormwater can also be a safety hazard to vehicles, pedestrians, and private property if it is not collected properly and forms pools in roadways.
Which surface waters are affected by Port Angeles stormwater? Strait of Juan de Fuca
Port Angeles Harbor
Dry Creek
Tumwater Creek
Valley Creek
Peabody Creek
White Creek
Ennis Creek
Lees Creek
Some local ponds and wetlands
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Impacts of Common Stormwater Pollutants Trash and Litter
Litter that reaches creeks and harbors can choke or suffocate birds and fish. Litter may also clog the stormwater drainage system, leading to street flooding.
Bacteria and disease-causing organisms
These organisms can cause health hazards for animals and people.
Chemicals and oil
Aquatic animals can be poisoned by chemicals and oils. People can be at risk if they eat contaminated fish or drink polluted water.
Nutrients
Nutrients from fertilizers or detergents can cause algae to grow in water. This algae uses up oxygen that native organisms need to survive.
How is Stormwater Currently Regulated in Washington? In 1987, Congress amended the Clean Water Act to include stormwater discharges in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed rules to implement the new stormwater requirements in two phases.
The Washington Department of Ecology implements the stormwater rules through municipal stormwater permits.
The City of Port Angeles was issued a NPDES Phase II permit on January 17, 2007. The permit authorizes the City to discharge stormwater into receiving water bodies.
What is the City Doing To Improve Stormwater? The City is developing a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) to address the requirements of the NPDES permit.
The City must meet six minimum control measures:
Public Education and Outreach
Public Participation/Involvement
Illicit (illegal) Discharge Detection and Elimination
Construction Site Runoff Control
Post-Construction Runoff Control
Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping
The City also implements projects designed to reduce flooding and improve stormwater collection within the City.
Draft Stormwater Management Program
The City's draft Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) will be updated and submitted to the Department of Ecology annually as required. Electronic copies of updates will be available on the City's Stormwater web page. Updates for each calendar year will be submitted by March 31 of the following year.
The SWMP is a draft document and shall not be considered fully developed until so designated by the City. Many of the activities described in the SWMP are planned activities, and their inclusion in this document does not guarantee that they will be implemented as described. The Permit deadline for final SWMP development is August 19, 2011.
Draft Stormwater Management Program
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Annual Report
The Department of Ecology requires the City to submit an Annual Report by March 31 of each year. The report gives information regarding the City's progress on permit requirements for the previous calendar year.
Annual Report
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The public is encouraged to participate in the development of the SWMP. Please contact the Department of Public Works and Utilities with questions, comments or suggestions.
City of Port Angeles Public Works & Utilities Department
Mail: 321 East Fifth St - P.O. Box 1150 / Port Angeles, WA 98362
Phone: (360) 417-4830 (Stormwater infoline) or (360) 457-0411 (general City number) Email: stormwater@cityofpa.us
Why Does Port Angeles Have a Stormwater Fee?
A monthly stormwater fee is charged to all property owners in Port Angeles. This fee supports the City's public stormwater utility. The current fee for all residential properties is $6.00 per month. The fee for commercial properties is based on the amount of impervious area at the facility.
1 equivalent residential unit (ERU) = 4,000 square feet of impervious surface
cost per ERU = $6.00 per month
maximum number of ERUs assessed per property (cap) = 10
Stormwater fees provide funding for activities required to construct new stormwater infrastructure, maintain existing facilities, comply with permit requirements. The stormwater utility is operated by the City's Department of Public Works and Utilities.
Attention - Owners of Construction Sites and Industrial Facilities You may be required to obtain a stormwater permit from the Department of Ecology (DOE).
Please visit the DOE's website for more information, permit applications (notices of intent).
Melting snow and heavy rainstorms can rapidly lead to sand, leaves, and debris covering catch basins and blocking the flow of stormwater, resulting in flooding on streets and/or nearby driveways. 
In 1987, Congress amended the Clean Water Act to include stormwater discharges in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed rules to implement the new stormwater requirements in two phases. 
The City is developing a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) to address the requirements of the NPDES permit. 