The Metropolitan King County Council today passed a motion requesting the Executive study the effectiveness of the public outreach programs for managing water runoff from homes and businesses in the effort to protect the region’s waterways.

“Citizens want Puget Sound and their local waterways to be pristine and free from pollution, so public education on how to wash your car or care for your yard in an environmentally-friendly manner can go a long way toward protecting water quality,” said Larry Phillips, chair of the Regional Water Quality Committee. “It’s time to get that information out to the public in an effective and coordinated manner.”

Federal regulations require municipalities such as King County to develop and implement stormwater management systems. Along with the control and elimination of stormwater runoff, the management systems must include public education and outreach on what individuals can do to protect their local waterways, such as not washing their cars in areas where the soapy runoff can enter storm drains.

The motion approved today by the Council requests the Executive and Department of Natural Resources and Parks to assess and report on public education activities in coordination with the state Department of Ecology and local agencies, in order to ensure the County is in compliance with the federal and state regulations.

Phillips’ focus is on the best practices for home and commercial car washing activities, so his motion requests an exploration of incentives and disincentives for adhering to car wash best management practices. “If each of us learn something that makes us change just one thing that keeps pollution out of stormwater runoff, the benefits to Puget Sound, lakes, and streams will be exponential,” said Phillips.

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system.
Type in 2007-0401