Report clogged storm drains

Is raking debris away from the storm drain not doing the trick? 

• During normal business hours, please report clogged storm drains and flooding to 425-488-0118 (press 1) or online at www.bothellwa.gov/car. 
• If reporting after business hours but it's not an emergency, call 425-577-5656. 

• If the flooding is an emergency, immediately call 9-1-1.

How you can help prevent flooding

The storm drains in your street catch, move, and release rainwater into the nearest stream to keep excess water away from your property. But fallen leaves and other debris can cause localized flooding if they cover those storm drains. Blowing or sweeping fallen leaves into the street makes them a safety and stormwater hazard to your property and your neighborhood. 

You can help prevent flooding from happening by using a rake to remove leaves from the street and storm drains near your property. PLEASE DO NOT BLOW LEAVES INTO THE STREET. Here are some safety guidelines to keep in mind when clearing leaves:

Safety first

Don't rake leaves towards the street

Avoid raking leaves near the street where they can wash or get blown into nearby storm drains. 

Watch for traffic 

Be careful when clearing leaves out of storm drains. Work from the curb, not in the street, and make sure an adult supervises any children who are helping.

Read more safety tips to follow while cleaning the area around your storm drain.

Street sweeper FAQ 

How often are Bothell’s streets swept? 

Bothell is divided into 12 sweeping zones. Our Storm Operations team ensures all 12 sweeping zones are swept monthly, Monday through Friday. During the fall, sweeping increases to seven days a week to address the higher volume of leaves and reduce the risk of flooding from blocked storm drains. 

How many street sweepers does Bothell have? 

We currently have two standard street sweepers. In fall 2024, the Bothell community voted to name them Sweeping Beauty and The Grim Sweeper. 

How do I request a street sweeper on my road? 

To request street sweeping, please submit an online request or call 425-488-0118 during business hours. Requests are prioritized based on a number of factors, including safety, property protection, staff availability, equipment efficiency, and environmental concerns. 

How does the City prioritize street sweeping efforts after a storm? 

Our street sweeping efforts prioritize arterials and major roads first, followed by collector roads and neighborhood streets as resources allow. After major weather events, we focus on clearing key transportation routes to ensure safety. View Bothell’s Street Clearing Priority Routes Map as a PDF.

Leaf-blowing FAQ

Q: If the street sweeper is coming by anyway, can't I just blow my leaves into the street so the sweeper can clear them?

A: No. Blowing your home's leaves into the street for someone else to clean up is prohibited per Bothell Municipal Codes 8.44.150 and 8.24.045. Leaves on the street create standing water, making street sweeping more difficult. With so much extra debris to collect, the sweeper tank fills a lot faster and needs to be emptied more often, so it takes longer to finish sweeping an area. 

Q: If I’m not supposed to blow leaves into the street, why did I see City of Bothell staff doing so?

A: Our Storm Operations team collaborates with various divisions and departments—including Streets, Water, Sewer, Parks, and Facilities—to prevent leaves from building up near parks and public spaces. When you observe City staff blowing leaves into the street, it's part of this coordinated effort. One of our two street sweepers will soon come by to collect the leaves and debris from that area. You’ll typically see this activity near City parks and trails, sewer lift stations, water reservoirs and pumps stations, in public right-of-way on streets, and at public facilities like City Hall, Police, and Fire Stations. 

What to do with fallen leaves 

Don't blow them into the street or gutter 

Make sure you or any landscaping companies that you or your Home Owners Association hire do not blow leaves into the street, as it is prohibited by Bothell Municipal Code 8.44.150: "Sweeping litter into gutter prohibited. No person shall sweep into or deposit in any gutter, street, alley, or other public place the accumulation of litter from any building or lot or from any public or private sidewalk or driveway. Persons owning or occupying property shall keep the sidewalks in front of their premises free of litter. (Ord. 697 § 9, 1973)." Also see BMC 8.24.045, Duties of owners and occupants. If your neighbor is blowing leaves or other yard debris into the street, please fill out a Customer Action Request so we can follow up.

Turn them into beneficial compost

Autumn leaves are a great source of high-carbon material for your compost pile. Alternate layers of shredded leaves with the other materials you normally add to your compost pile (scraps from fruits and veggies, grass clippings, weeds, etc.) and let it sit over the winter. Whenever you think about it, aerate or turn the pile. Your compost will be ready to use by spring. Learn more about natural yard care methods.

Use them as mulch

Shred leaves and use them as mulch on vegetable gardens and flower beds, around trees and shrubs, and in containers. Just add a 2" to 3" layer of shredded leaves to the beds, keeping the mulch from directly touching the stems and trunks of the plants. The mulch retains moisture in the soil, stays cool, and limits weed seed germination.

Leave the leaves

Use a mulching mower to shred your leaves once a week until they have all fallen, then "leave" them on your yard. While the leaves break down during winter, they'll shade your soil and provide it with nutrients, which means fewer weeds to deal with in spring.

Hoard them! 

Save a bag or two of leaves in your garage over the winter. In spring, adding that brown material to your compost pile makes your compost just right for the season.  

Adopt your storm drain

Help out your whole neighborhood by joining the Adopt-a-Drain program and agreeing to keep at least one nearby storm drain clear throughout the year, but especially during the rainy season. Be sure to stay safe while cleaning the area near your storm drain.

Stay safe in a flood

Because of how much rainfall we get in the Pacific Northwest, flooding is a common regional problem. If you have flooding concerns, prepare ahead of time to reduce damage and keep your family safe

• Store household chemicals at higher elevations to keep them out of flood waters, especially in garages, sheds, and basements.
• Make sure any underground storage tanks are fully sealed and secure.
• Have a plan and make an emergency kit. 
• Have check valves installed in building sewer traps to prevent flood waters from backing up in sewer drains. 
• Stay out of floodwaters, as they contain many things that may harm health.
• If your basement floods, check Washington State Department of Health's steps for cleaning a basement (available in eight languages).
• After a flood, learn how to get rid of mold.

Learn more flood safety tips.