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Sewer Maintenance
909 East Sprague Avenue 99202
Phone:(509) 625-7900
Fax:(509) 625-7940
Riverside Park Water Reclamation Facility
4401 N. A.L. White Parkway 99205
Phone:(509) 625-4600
Fax:(509) 625-4605
Treatment Plant

Stormwater Management

Welcome.

Spokane’s Stormwater program is a project undertaken in order to ensure that the City’s stormwater system (and the facilities associated with it) adequately and consistently provides for the needs and well-being of the community it services. It seeks to reduce pollution associated with stormwater, thereby protecting the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer and the numerous rivers and creeks in the Spokane area. In addition, recent stormwater planning and new stormwater programs are being implemented in response to the Eastern Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit, which was issued by the Department of Ecology in 2007.

The Stormwater program encourages, even requires public participation to help identify potentially hazardous spills, overflows, and other problems. We value your input and recognize that every person can help make Spokane a safer, healthier place to live!

The City’s stormwater drainage system is a large, complex network of conveyances that are designed to take rainfall and direct it conveniently away from roads, buildings, and other pubic and private areas. It consists of several different features, including...

  1. Over 300 miles of separate storm sewers that discharge stormwater to infiltration facilities, the Spokane River and Latah Creek at over 100 locations, including many bridges.

  2. Over 400 miles of combined storm/sanitary systems that carry some stormwater to the City's treatment plant when it rains. During moderate to heavy rainfall and snowmelt events, a combination of stormwater and untreated sewage can overflow to the Spokane River to prevent overloading the plant.

  3. Thousands of swale bioinfiltration treatment facilities that discharge stormwater into the ground after treating the water by trapping sediments, oil, grease, and other pollutants.

Stormwater Management Rate Structure

The City of Spokane funds the Stormwater Management Program through a utility rate structure. Each residential utility customer is charged monthly on their sewer utility bill, whereas commercial/industrial customers' rates vary depending on the size and configuration of their facility (impervious area).

The City offers rate credits to private commercial/industrial customers if appropriate on-site stormwater disposal and treatment facilities are provided and maintained; please call (509) 625-7900 for more information and an application form.

Phase II Permit

In 2007, the Washington State Department of Ecology issued the Phase II Eastern Washington Municipal NPDES and State Waste Discharge General Permit. In short, it is issued to the owners or operators of small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s), such as the City of Spokane, and allows them to discharge stormwater into surface waters or ground waters of Washington State. It is designed to help municipalities reach water quality standards established by the state, and it outlines the criteria for the practices in Spokane’s stormwater program. To view the Permit in its entirety, click here.