City of Olympia, WA

07/13/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/13/2026 09:23

07/13/2026 - Water Resources News

Summer Outdoor Clean-Up

Did you know pressure washing can harm the water we enjoy swimming and fishing in? That's because outdoor surfaces often have sediment, paint chips, metals, grease, tire particles and other nasty things that end up in the wash water. It's illegal to let dirty water enter a storm drain or surface water (OMC 13.16.045).

When cleaning outdoor surfaces like roofs, driveways or walkways, we recommend sweeping instead of washing. The best rule of thumb to follow is…Only rain down the storm drain!

If you pressure wash or hire a contractor to do it for you, please remember to follow the best practices below.

Before pressure washing:
  • Sweep or clean dirty spots first.
  • Absorb oil spots with kitty litter (or absorbent), sweep up debris.
When washing:
  • Use cold water only (no soap or chemicals).
  • Use low pressure to conserve water.
  • Divert water to a vegetated area so it does not enter a storm drain.
After washing:
  • Sweep up and dispose of any accumulated debris.

Smart Irrigation Month

July is Smart Irrigation Month in Olympia! Lawns and landscapes are typically overwatered by up to 30%, contributing to shallow roots, weed growth and disease. We encourage our water customers to cut irrigation water waste this summer!

By watering wisely, maintaining and upgrading automated irrigation systems, you can save money and help protect our drinking water resources for future generations.

If you have an in-ground irrigation system, get smart about watering by remembering four simple steps:
  1. Inspect. Check your system for clogged, broken or missing sprinkler heads.
  2. Connect. Examine points where the sprinkler heads connect to pipes/hoses. If water pools or you have large soggy areas, you could have a leak.
  3. Direct. Are you watering the driveway, house or sidewalk instead of your yard? Redirect sprinklers to apply water only to the landscape.
  4. Select. An improperly scheduled irrigation controller can waste a lot of water and money. Update your system to a weather-based smart controller to take the guesswork out of scheduling.
Irrigation Rebates & Tips
Contact
Olympia Public Works
360.753.8333
[email protected]
City of Olympia, WA published this content on July 13, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 13, 2026 at 15:23 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]