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Report Sewer Issues
As your Sewer Utility, it is our goal to protect public health and the environment while providing cost effective service for our customers. Sewer Utility crews perform regular maintenance on our systems and are on call 24/7 to respond to emergencies. We also depend on County residents and our customers to let us know if sewer issues arise.
If you see a spill or activity that is causing water pollution anywhere in Kitsap County,
including the cities of Port Orchard, Bremerton, and Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island, please report it! You can report spills through Kitsap1 at 360.337.5777 or on our convenient SeeClickFix app. If the issue occurs after hours or on the weekends, call 911. Dispatchers will alert Sewer Utility crews to respond to the problem.
If you suspect a sewer issue at home, let us know. A Sewer Utility staff member will come out as a courtesy to ensure our systems are working properly. For most properties we can provide the location of your building sewer line on your property. If the issue is on your property and not in the main sewer system, we can refer you to a list of licensed contractors approved by the county to make repairs.
Sometimes it can be hard to determine by sight or smell whether there is a sewer issue. However, if left unreported, a small leak or spill can become a hazard to public health or significant impact on the environment. Help us by reporting issues with sewage or other pollutants so we can reach them before they enter our waterways.
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Sewer General Plan Update
The Sewer Utility is updating the Sewer General Plan for all Kitsap County service areas. The plan will be available online for public review at kcowa.us/sewer. A public meeting will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the Kitsap County Commissioners Chambers at 619 Division Street in Port Orchard.
Public comments will be accepted from March 15 to April 30. Visit kcowa.us/sewer for details and comment form.
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 Don’t Flush Medicine
Do you have unwanted or expired medications lurking in the back of your medicine cabinet? Medications should not be flushed down the toilet, because they contaminate our waterways. Returning your unwanted medicines through a take
back program is the safest method of disposal.
Kitsap County residents may dispose
of unwanted medications at MEDProject kiosks located throughout Kitsap County. Participating pharmacies, clinics, hospitals and law enforcement offices will accept
prescription and over the counter medicines for disposal. There is no cost to residents to use the service. Don’t let your unwanted or expired medication become a danger to others or our environment.
Visit MEDproject.org to find the kiosk nearest you or to find information on mail-back services available to differentially abled or homebound residents.
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 Fight the Fatbergs!
Fatbergs! What are these monsters living in
our sewer systems, and how do they get there? Fatbergs can grow in pipes where fats, oils, and grease solidify and block flow. Left to its own devices, the fatberg will continue to grow, collecting bits and pieces of contraband that make it down drains. What is contraband? Cotton swabs, dental floss, and wipes that should never be flushed can all become part of the monster.
When we pour something down our drains or flush our toilets, it is out of sight out of mind. But the journey through the sewer system is only beginning. Fats, oils, and grease poured down drains in liquid form will eventually solidify and cause clogs in pipes. Adding hot water or detergent may seem like a solution, but this is only temporary and pushes the problem further down the system.
Sewer Utility crews monitor the pipes and pump stations in our sewer systems to ensure they are clear and working properly. With routine maintenance, blockages are removed before they become a problem for our customers. But fatbergs don’t only slow the flow in the pipes, they slow the maintenance crews by making additional work and increased operation costs for sewer service.
Most fatbergs occur in residential areas. Commercial producers of grease are
regulated and required to provide proper disposal, but there are no rules on how we use our plumbing at home. Neighborhoods with recurring maintenance issues may receive notice from the Sewer Utility to make residents aware and encourage proper disposal methods.
Help us fight fatbergs by keeping fats, oils, and grease out of drains.
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Don't be a pain in the drain
Don’t let items such as grease or wipes go down drains. Avoid using the toilet as a trash can. Only flush human waste
and toilet paper to avoid clogged pipes. Only flush the 4 P’s - poop, pee, puke, and toilet paper.
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KITSAP COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS | KITSAP.GOV | KITSAP1: 360.337.5777 |
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