Search Results - Washington State Department of Ecology

How to recycle

Information you need to Recycle Right, to find recycling services, and to tell what you can recycle.

https://ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics/reducing-recycling-waste/how-to-recycle

Our recycling programs

Our recycling programs focused on product stewardship.

https://ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics/reducing-recycling-waste/our-recycling-programs

Groundwater diagram

This is a diagram that shows a landform cross-section with groundwater and its place in the water cycle.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/groundwater/groundwater-resources/groundwater-diagram

Walla Walla Water 2050 Strategic Plan

We're seeking comments on the Walla Walla Water 2050 Strategic Plan

https://ecology.wa.gov/ecologys-work-near-you/river-basins-groundwater/walla-walla-2050/strategic-plan

Dungeness water management

The Dungeness water management rule protects rivers and streams and manages new groundwater uses.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/protecting-stream-flows/instream-flow-implementation/dungeness-water-management

Columbia River Basin Long-term Water Supply and Demand Forecast

Forecasting water supply and demand in Eastern Washington into the 2040s

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/our-programs/office-of-columbia-river/office-of-columbia-river-legislative-reports/water-supply-demand-forecast

Skagit water management history

Information on the rule and court decision that effect Skagit River basin landowners.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/protecting-stream-flows/instream-flow-implementation/skagit-river-basin/history

Well construction & licensing

We provide well information and regulatory guidance for property owners and well drillers.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/wells

Cleanup sites

Find information on specific contamination cleanup sites.

https://ecology.wa.gov/spills-cleanup/contamination-cleanup/cleanup-sites

Find a grant or loan

Find a grant or loan, and details about how to apply.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/payments-contracts-grants/grants-loans/find-a-grant-or-loan

Surface water quality: Antidegradation

Our antidegradation rules use three tiers of protection to help maintain water quality.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/water-quality-standards/antidegradation

Drought Response

Drought declared for the Upper Yakima, Lower Yakima, and Naches watersheds April 8, 2025.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-availability/statewide-conditions/drought-response

Testing drinking water

Concerned about the water in your well? Find an accredited lab to test your drinking water.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/wells/testing-drinking-water

Tools to interpret and implement

Get help understanding how the surface water quality standards apply to your work.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/water-quality-standards/assistance

2023 Waste Not Washington School Awards

In 2023, the Waste Not Washington School Awards awarded $130,091.61 to Washington schools.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/our-programs/solid-waste-management/waste-not-washington-school-awards/2023-school-awards

Region office contacts

Contact information for our region offices.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/contact-us/region-contacts

Seawater intrusion

Some coastal water wells in Washington are now unusable because of seawater intrusion. Read more about this.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-rights/seawater-intrusion

Skagit River basin

The Skagit River rule established instream flow levels to help protect the ecosystem of the river.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/protecting-stream-flows/instream-flow-implementation/skagit-river-basin

Anaerobic digesters

We provide assistance to local governments and conduct inspections of anaerobic digesters.

https://ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics/reducing-recycling-waste/organics-and-food-waste/anaerobic-digesters

Skagit River basin mitigation program

There is a limited quantity of water available for landowners within the mitigation zone.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/protecting-stream-flows/instream-flow-implementation/skagit-river-basin/water-supply/mitigation-program

Water quality individual permits

Individual permits for a specific entity where discharges vary and do not fit a general category.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/water-quality-permits/water-quality-individual-permits

Protecting aquifers

We work to protect underground water aquifers from contamination and protect drinking water.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/groundwater/protecting-aquifers

Ocean Acidification Blue Ribbon Panel

Washington is monitoring and responding to the acidification of marine waters.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/accountability-transparency/partnerships-committees/ocean-acidification-blue-ribbon-panel

Protecting stream flows

An instream flow is a water right for the stream and the resources that depend on it.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/protecting-stream-flows

2018-2020 session legislation

Laws from 2018-2020 sessions

https://ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics/reducing-recycling-waste/strategic-policy-and-planning/enacting-legislation/2018-2020-legislation

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

FAQs and responses about the WRIA 1 (Nooksack) adjudication.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-rights/adjudications/nooksack/faqs

Hanford cleanup process

An overview of our role in cleaning up the Hanford Site.

https://ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics/nuclear-waste/hanford-cleanup/hanford-cleanup-process

Discharge limits for domestic wastewater facilities

Wastewater treatment plants must meet minimum performance standards/technology-based effluent limits

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/wastewater/discharge-standards-limits

Spokane River multi-parameter TMDL

We work with partners to increase oxygen and reduce metals and PCBs in the Spokane River.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/water-improvement/total-maximum-daily-load-process/directory-of-improvement-projects/spokane-river

Yakima River Basin water projects

Our projects seek to achieve integrated water solutions and resiliency in the Yakima Basin.

https://ecology.wa.gov/ecologys-work-near-you/river-basins-groundwater/yakima-river-basin-projects

Yakima River Basin Integrated Plan

A holistic approach to meeting the Yakima River Basin's long-term water and ecosystem needs.

https://ecology.wa.gov/ecologys-work-near-you/river-basins-groundwater/yakima-river-basin-projects/yakima-integrated-plan

Shorelands & Environmental Assistance

We provide guidance, plans, and funds for communities where the water meets the land.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/our-programs/shorelands-environmental-assistance

Skagit River basin studies

Science and analysis are the basis of our decision-making in the Skagit River basin.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/protecting-stream-flows/instream-flow-implementation/skagit-river-basin/studies

Public posting

You can review or comment on documents posted by our four region offices.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-rights/public-notices-comments

Straight to implementation

We use a process called straight to implementation as a tool to improve water quality.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/water-improvement/straight-to-implementation

Instream flow & water management rules

Instream flow rules guide local and state decision-making in many areas of the state.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/protecting-stream-flows/instream-flow-implementation

Water Quality improvement projects

See where we are working with partners across the state to improve water quality.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/water-improvement/total-maximum-daily-load-process/directory-of-improvement-projects

Saltwater

We work to protect Washington's marine resources.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/saltwater

Total Maximum Daily Load process

The TMDL process cleans up polluted water so it meets state water quality standards.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/water-improvement/total-maximum-daily-load-process

Media contacts

Program and regional contact information for the news media.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/contact-us/media-contacts

Surface water quality criteria

Water quality criteria help us assess the health of surface waters and set pollution control limits.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/water-quality-standards/criteria

Temperature pollution

We are working to protect and restore riparian habitat and other practices to help keep Washington's waters cool.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/nonpoint-pollution/temperature-pollution

Dangerous waste facility cleanup

Information about cleanup work at facilities that manage dangerous waste.

https://ecology.wa.gov/spills-cleanup/contamination-cleanup/cleanup-sites/dangerous-waste-facility-cleanup

Chamokane Creek settlement agreement - Frequently asked questions

FAQs about the settlement agreement on impacts of permit-exempt wells on flows in Chamokane Creek.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-availability/chamokane-creek/frequently-asked-questions

Groundwater

We work to protect groundwater from pollution so that it's drinkable and meets state standards.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/groundwater

Ecology v Acquavella

The Superior Court has issued a final decree on the historic adjudication in the Yakima River Basin.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-rights/adjudications/ecology-v-acquavella

Air Quality

We are the state's lead agency for managing air quality.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/our-programs/air-quality

Program contacts

List of our program key contacts and links to our staff directory.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/contact-us/program-contacts

Adapting cleanup processes for climate impacts

Toxic contamination & cleanup site work is threatened by climate change.

https://ecology.wa.gov/air-climate/responding-to-climate-change/toxic-contamination-cleanup

Water Quality Assessment & 303(d) List

We assess water data to understand how clean the rivers, lakes, and marine waters are in the state.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/water-improvement/assessment-of-state-waters-303d