City of Lake Forest Park News Release

What is Stormwater?

Stormwater is runoff during and following precipitation and snowmelt events, including surface runoff and drainage. As the runoff flows over roofs, parking lots, roads and other impervious surface it collects pollutants like oil, heavy metals, fertilizers, detergents and animal waste. This type of pollution is considered non–point pollution. This runoff eventually flows into streams, wetlands and Lake Washington harming the organisms such as salmon and other fish, invertebrates, aquatic plants and all of their associated predators. The NPDES permit was created to reduce the pollutants that runoff collects, thereby improving water quality.

In fact, one-third of the pollutants found in our streams, lakes and the Puget Sound can be attributed to non—point pollution. Below are some facts about stormwater pollution/non-point pollution:

Every year, Puget Sound suffers an oil spill equal to more than half an Exxon Valdez. It just happens drop by drop.
Stormwater from roads, parking lots and elsewhere carries between 6.3 million and 8 million gallons of petroleum into Puget Sound every year.
The number of pesticides found in Puget Sound streams during rainstorms: 23
The number of the pesticides found in Puget Sound streams with concentrations higher than levels that protect aquatic life: five
Gallons of treated wastewater discharged in the Puget Sound region each day: 675,000,000
Gallons of stormwater runoff from a 1,200 square foot roof, after one inch of rain: 748
Gallons of stormwater runoff from a one-acre parking lot, after one inch of rain: 27,000

From King County stormwater web page:
www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/stormwater/introduction/stormwater-runoff.aspx

From The Seattle Times
Stormwater's damage to Puget Sound huge, report says

Get information about the cleanup Action Agenda at Puget Sound Partnership, the state agency established to lead efforts to protect and restore Puget Sound and its diversity of life:
www.psp.wa.gov.