Thurston County

Thurston County facilities are open to the public with safety measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect public and employee health. Learn more here.

Storm Drain Inspections & Forms

Basic inspection process for drains, ponds & other stormwater facility types

We send inspection forms annually to property owners, business owners or Homeowner Associations (HOAs) – whoever is responsible for maintaining the facility. Please use these forms to identify any type of maintenance that may be required, and the date by which the work will be completed. Then send the completed form back to us. If you have questions about your facilities or need help completing our forms, please call us, we're happy to help.

Inspectors may perform a site visit where they check catch basins, storm drain inlets, flow control structures, detention ponds, tanks, vaults, treatment systems, and oil/water separators. They look for high sediment levels, missing or broken components, drainage problems, and invasive or noxious vegetation.

If they find that maintenance or repairs are needed, we'll send you a report detailing the issue. After you fix the problem or schedule the repair, please complete a new inspection form and send it back to us.

Inspection form (Due Annually: August 31st)

Click on the form below to open it. Download it, fill it out, and save to your computer.

Inspection Form (fillable PDF)

If you run into issues with the form try these tips:

1) Ensure you have the most up-to-date version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (download it here).

2) Use Chrome as your web browser (download it here).

Email it to us at: stormwater@co.thurston.wa.us.

Or mail it to Stormwater Utility:

9605 Tilley Rd. South

Olympia, WA 98512

FREE Dumpster Program

Each neighborhood pond in Thurston County (outside of the Cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater) is eligable for a 1-time FREE Dumpster delivery, pick-up & disposal to assist them with a community stormwater pond vegetation removal effort.

Program details & requirements: COMING SOON

Download, fill out, save and submit this application form: COMING SOON

Email the completed application to us at: stormwater@co.thurston.wa.us.

Or mail it to Stormwater Utility:

9605 Tilley Rd. South

Olympia, WA 98512

If you need technical assistance, please contact our Residential Stormwater Inspector at (360) 867-2095.

Guidance Pages

These one-page guidance documents explain each facility type and their respective maintenance guidelines. Download the one-pager for each facility type present at your site and use it to assist in completing the annual inspection form.

Wet and Dry Ponds (PDF)

Constructed Wetlands (PDF)

Pipes, Culverts, Slotted Drains (PDF)

Ditches and Swales (PDF)

Catch Basins (PDF)

Level Spreader, Diffuser (PDF)

Treatment Devices (PDF)

Oil-water Separator (PDF)

CAVFS (PDF)

Permeable Pavements (PDF)

Bioretention (PDF)

Biofiltration Systems (PDF)