The  Pollution Control Hearings Board recently made a ruling that will require the state Ecology Department to rewrite their stormwater control regulations to keep polluted stormwater out of Puget Sound and the streams that feed into Puget Sound.  Up until now, the Ecology Department has encouraged counties and streams in areas that feed into the Sound to try new, rain-absorbing stormwater management techniques to filter runoff through soil and plantings prior to moving into streams, rivers and lakes but has not required it.

The decision by the Board, which acts like a court of appeals for state environmental regulations, says Ecology must require the new techniques for all new developments where feasible.  The ruling can be appealed, either to Superior Court, an appeals court, or directly to the state Supreme Court. 

Inevitably the developers, builders and local governments will wrangle with the Ecology Department over the changes.  But why?

This solution is new but other than the basic resistance to change, there seems to be no good reason to fight it.  Stormwater management systems are generally less costly for local governments, far prettier, and filter pollutants out of the stormwater before they reach the rivers, lakes or Sound. 

In an article in the Seattle Times, reporter Warren Cornwall writes, "Picture housing developments built to soak up rainwater with special gardens, roofs covered with plants, narrower streets paved with asphalt that absorbs water, or foundations that leave topsoils undisturbed."

The photo, taken by Greg Gilbert, is from the same Seattle Times article.