You might think that water, or other things going down storm drains gets cleaned up before being released into our waterways. Well, unfortunately it doesn't.  Storm drains lead directly to ditches, streams, lakes and bays.  They are meant to transport clean rain water, nothing else.  So if you are conducting an outside activity - such as a car wash, or pressure washing - you need to keep that water from going down the storm drain.

One easy way to do this is by using a storm drain kit. These kits are simple pumps that drop into a storm drain catch basin.  As water from your activity drains into the catch basin, it gets pumped up through a hose to a sanitary drain or somewhere it can be properly treated.

Non-profit groups running charity car washes can borrow the kits free of charge from the City of Bellingham.

Kits are now available for businesses to borrow as well.  Call Kym Fedale or Joy Monjure, Environmental Resources 676-6961.

Or use the Storm Drain Pump Kit instructions HERE to build your own kit.