Beaches, Lakes & Rivers

The Snohomish County Health Department protects the environment and water quality of the county’s lakes, rivers, and the Puget Sound waterfront by:

  • Regulating septic systems and solid waste
  • Reducing hazardous waste in homes and businesses
  • Supporting community efforts to prevent pollution

If you are concerned about an immediate water pollution problem that might be a threat to you or the environment, please call 911. For other pollution concerns, contact the Snohomish County Surface Water Management.

Lake & beach water quality

The water at swimming beaches is not treated, and the Snohomish County Health Department does not regulate lake and river water quality. Local sanitary codes require public beaches to provide information on how to prevent illness. The water quality in many local lakes is monitored by the Snohomish County Surface Water Management with the help of community volunteers.

For updates on Snohomish County water quality, residents should use the following resources:

Preventing water pollution

The health of the Snohomish County environment and water system is essential to the health and vitality of our communities, which is why the Snohomish County Health Department focuses on preventing sources of pollution from entering the environment.

Our Pollution Prevention Assistance program offers education and technical assistance to Snohomish County small businesses, schools, and government entities in the following areas:

  • Reuse and recycling of solid waste
  • Spill prevention
  • Stormwater issues
  • Toxic and hazardous waste impact
  • Waste management