Stormwater News

At the Salish Sea Stormwater Monitoring Project, our mission is to monitor stormwater outfalls for pollution that can impact the health of our marine ecosystem. Our volunteers collect water samples from local outfalls on a monthly basis and test for a variety of water quality parameters. When our data indicates that the level of pollution exceeds a predetermined threshold, we partner with the municipality’s Stormwater Department to locate the source. 

Recently, our Mukilteo volunteer team made an important discovery. In August of 2023, the team conducted their routine outfall monitoring at a beach popular with a local scuba diving club. After testing for the presence of E. coli, a bacteria found in the intestines of warm blooded animals , the results were clear: the amount of bacteria in this water sample far exceeded the threshold of what is considered normal and safe. While most strains of E. coli are harmless, some can cause serious illness in humans and wildlife. In water quality monitoring, it is used as an indicator of sewage contamination, or waste from dogs or wildlife. Its presence often correlates with other pathogens, such as viruses or parasites that can cause a host of health risks, including diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever. It can lead to swimming advisories, shellfish harvest closures and excess nutrients in the marine environment, contributing  to a low oxygen environment. 

Our Mukilteo team reached out to the City of Mukilteo’s Stormwater Management Department to alert them. The City responded enthusiastically, grateful to the volunteers for their preliminary work. Meiring Borcherds, Mukilteo’s Surface Water Programs Manager, was assigned to oversee the case. The detective work began to determine the ultimate source of the outfall’s high levels of E. coli.  The City started by taking their own sample to a  lab where it could be DNA tested. The lab was able to confirm the bacteria was from a human source. This helped the team focus their search towards the sewer system.

Sample by sample, Meiring and the volunteers worked their way upstream in an attempt to pinpoint the pollution source. While sampling the creek that runs through downtown Mukilteo, Meiring discovered a section of sidewalk that appeared to be sinking away. He spoke with the owner of the nearest building, and received his permission to take a look underneath the structure. He discovered that this building, one of the oldest in downton Mukilteo, harbored an old side sewer pipe that was seriously backed up. Not only was the water from the leaky pipe eating away at the ground, it was leaching into the nearby creek, too! 

The Mukilteo Stormwater Management Department was able to take action to fix the pipe and therefore eliminate the issue. Thanks to our Mukilteo volunteers and the City, this source of pollution is no longer impacting local waterways. A huge round of applause is in order for Meiring’s department, the City of Mukilteo, and our local volunteers Richard, Tim, Becky, Chris, Jay, Kittie, and Bob. 

Meiring Borcherds explained, “Without these volunteers, we probably would not have caught the issue. We plan to host a barbecue for them in August to say thank you for all the hours the put in.”

Mukilteo is a big city with lots of outfalls to be monitored. Want to join the team and help prevent pollution from flowing into the Salish Sea? Email smvalderas1974@gmail to get involved today!