Report a Spill

Help us keep Lake Washington clean. If you see a spill or illegal discharge into a city stormwater drain, report it right away.  Call (206) 275-7608 (daytime) or (425) 577-5656, our after hours 24/7 dispatch number.

The City of Mercer Island asks residents and businesses to help us keep our water clean. If you see spills or illegal discharges into a city stormwater drain, call the City’s Maintenance Department at (206) 275-7608 during regular business hours (8:00 am to 5:00 pm), or (425) 577-5656 after hours.

Examples of illegal discharges or spills include:

• Used motor oil, fuel oil, gas, anti-freeze or other automotive fluids
• Fertilizers or other landscape chemicals
• Paint and solvents
• Discharge from swimming pools or other highly chlorinated water
• Sewage and industrial wastewater

When we receive a call on the hotline, a city crew will respond to the site, assess the situation and take appropriate action. Left untreated, spills or discharges could flow through our stormwater system and into Lake Washington, so we appreciate your prompt attention and report.

The City of Mercer Island’s stormwater permit from the Washington Department of Ecology requires that we publicize information about our Illicit Discharge and Elimination (IDE) hotline.

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) Program 

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulates the discharge of stormwater under the authority of the Federal Clean Water Act. Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) has the designated authority to administer NPDES within the state of Washington. Under this authority, Ecology has issued NPDES permits regulating the discharge of stormwater.

The City of Mercer Island is under the regulation of the Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit issued on February 16, 2007. The current Phase II permit will remain in effect until February 15, 2012, after which a new Phase II permit will be issued. The Phase II permit mandates permittees to prepare and implement an Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) program. The City's IDDE plan and its implementation satisfies this requirement.