Finding and Reducing Fecal Bacteriain King County Stormwater Systems in Bear, Evans and Cottage Lake Creeks

Why do we care aboutfecal* bacteria in streams?

Because high levels can indicate human and animal disease-causing pathogens and pollutants from: • failing septic systems• sewer leaks• unmanaged horse and dog waste

• greases and garbage exposed to the rain

1-800-258-8802

DO NOT FEED!

What King County is doing about it

Department of Natural Resources and ParksWater and Land Resources DivisionStormwater Services Section

What you can do

Mapping the stormwater system

Sampling the water

Testing water samples to measure

bacteriaAnalyzing human

waste bacteria DNA

Holding workshops on septic system

maintenance

Inspecting stormwater outfalls

to creeks

Taking water quality measurements to

find hot spotsNarrowing down sites to sample

If you’re a homeowner on a public sewer line, check the condition of the side sewer connecting your house to the main sewer line.

Find information on side sewers through your sewer provider.

If you’re a homeowner with an on-site septic system, perform regular maintenance like pumping your tank.

Look for signs of failure like standing water on the ground near your drain field during dry conditions.

If you’re a pet owner, pick up after your best friend and put it in the trash. The pile you leave behind will wash into a waterway.

Don’t feed ducks, gulls, or geese.

Feeding attracts more birds whose feces carry pathogens into our waterways.

Report pollution to streams or storm drains!

If you see:

• illegal dumping• discolored,

foul-smelling water• chemicals or soaps

Call the Departmentof Ecology at 1-800-258-8802.

Visit our website at: www.kingcounty.gov/stormwater

Find us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/kingcountystormwater

*Fecal means from feces or poop sources.

Checking the condition of our

system

1610_7017L_BearBacteriaPoster.ai

Identi-fying County-owned properties to install dog waste

collection stations.