Welcome to the Storm Water Department! 

The Common Council of the City of Washington created the Department of Storm Water Management to operate and maintain the storm water system, which is part of the city’s infrastructure.

The Storm Water System is made up of roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels and storm sewers. The storm water system is designed to carry runoff water (from rain and melting snow) quickly off the streets, and discharge it without treatment into the White River. The storm water/storm sewer system should be separate from the city’s sanitary sewer system. The sanitary sewer system transports all household wastewater (from toilets, showers, and sinks) to the Washington Wastewater Treatment Facility, where it is treated before being discharged into the White River.

However, part of Washington’s storm water system is also combined with the city’s sanitary sewer system. During a heavy rain event, this combined sewer system is often overwhelmed by an enormous volume of runoff water in a short amount of time, resulting in what is known as a Combined Sewage Overflow, or CSO. During a CSO, untreated sewage can be carried into the White River by the storm water runoff flowing through the system. To help prevent this, the City of Washington has constructed a large retention pond and tank to hold the runoff water until it can be released in a controlled manner to an innovative wetland treatment channel, completely bypassing the Wastewater Treatment Facility.

The Department of Storm Water Management is funded by monthly user fees, based on the amount of impervious surface area located on each user’s property. 

Stormwater Rates & Charges