Just one storm can dump millions of gallons of water on our county. As this water flows over our yards, roads, and buildings, it picks up contaminants you wouldn't want to touch or drink. Things like oil from leaking cars, poisons and chemicals from lawns, and animal (or sometimes even human) waste. Even soil and dead plants can cause problems when they are moved by water. 

Our job is to help reduce the risk of flooding by directing runoff to storm drains and ditches, and to keep it as clean as possible because runoff flows into the lakes and rivers we swim and fish in. It seeps into the aquifers that 90 percent of Thurston County residents drink from. 

We help build and maintain the public network of storm drains, ditches, pipes, ponds, and other related systems across our County. We also work hard to help everyone do their part to ensure that only rain goes into storm drains.