Stormwater, Surface Water and Groundwater Utility

Safeguarding the environment

Vital stormwater, surface water and groundwater programs help safeguard the environment for aquatic life and our community. These programs protect and improve our community’s surface and ground water resources.

Every year, our Operations’ Drainage/Surface Water Team cleans each of Vancouver’s 16,000-plus catch stormwater drains. In the process, the team removes approximately 500 tons of leaves, sediment and other debris. They also maintain almost 400 miles of stormwater pipelines.

Meanwhile, in Engineering Services, our Surface Water Management Team provides engineering direction and technical expertise in the planning, review and design of efficient stormwater systems. Protecting our water resources and complying with state and federal water quality regulations is a critical part of our work.

Stormwater Management Plan

Clean, abundant water resources are vital to Vancouver’s high quality of life. We are committed to protecting our water and complying with permit requirements.

Management plan

Report a Spill

Report spills and contain them before they reach our local streams and other waterways. Help protect our water!

Report a spill

Street Sweeping

Street sweeping helps keep sediment, leaves, debris and pollutants out of the stormwater system, which can flow to creeks and rivers.

Weekly sweeping schedules

Stormwater Management Action Plan

This plan will help guide our efforts to improve stream health and livability in areas most impacted by urban runoff.

Managing stormwater

Preventing Pollution at Home

Clean water means healthier waterways, habitats and people. Take simple steps to help to reduce water pollution.

Preventing pollution at home

Preventing Pollution at Work

Pollution from business operations can harm our local creeks, streams and groundwater. Let’s work together to protect our waterways.

Preventing pollution at work

Water Resources Protection Program

Our community relies exclusively on ground water, from three regional aquifers, for our drinking water. We help protect these critical aquifers underlying the city.

Protecting water resources

Vancouver Watersheds

The two primary watersheds in Vancouver are Burnt Bridge Creek and Columbia Slope, with Vancouver Lake basin at the western boundary and Lacamas Creek watershed to the east.

Our watersheds

Storm Drain Medallion Program

Volunteer groups can work with the us to install medallions near storm drains in an effort to raise awareness about the link between stormwater drainage and water quality.

Volunteer to protect water