Water damage restoration in Olympia, WA 98501 covers some of the oldest and lowest-lying parts of the city. The ZIP code takes in downtown along Budd Inlet, the tree-lined streets of South Capitol near the Capitol Campus and Capitol Lake, and part of neighboring Tumwater. Through our referral line (opening soon), you can be connected with an independent restoration company that works in 98501 and can come out to dry a leak, a flooded crawl space or storm damage.
Downtown and the waterfront
Downtown Olympia sits close to sea level on the shore of Budd Inlet. The city's records show that during the December 2022 king tide, the highest ever recorded in Olympia, sea water overtopped the shoreline near Percival Landing and at the intersection near Columbia Street and A Avenue, and flooded the street by the Farmers Market roundabout to just under curb height. Tide gates installed by the city kept it from spreading further. Buildings near the shoreline, Heritage Park and Capitol Lake are the most exposed to this kind of salt-water flooding, especially when a high tide coincides with heavy rain and a storm surge.
Flooding from outside is usually excluded from homeowners and business property policies and needs a separate flood policy. See our storm and flood cleanup page.
Older houses in South Capitol
South Capitol is one of Olympia's historic neighborhoods, with many houses that are close to a century old. Original plumbing, plaster and lath walls, wood floors and crawl spaces without a modern vapor barrier are all common. That combination means:
- Leaks under bathrooms and kitchens can run for a long time before anyone sees them.
- Plaster walls and old-growth wood floors hold moisture and dry slowly.
- Crawl spaces can stay damp for months through the wet season.
- Pipes near crawl space vents are exposed during cold snaps.
The Tumwater side of 98501
98501 crosses into Tumwater, where Tumwater City Hall on Israel Road SW uses the same ZIP code. Homes there get water from the City of Tumwater rather than Olympia, and are served by the Tumwater Fire Department. See our Tumwater page for more on that side.
Water and wastewater in 98501
Inside Olympia, drinking water comes mainly from the city's McAllister Wellfield, east of the city, with other city wells as backup. Wastewater from Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater is treated at the LOTT Clean Water Alliance's Budd Inlet plant downtown. If a leak is at your meter or in the street, call the city's water utility first. Leaks on your side of the meter are a job for a plumber and, if water got into the house, a restoration company.
Typical 98501 water damage calls
- Burst and frozen pipes in older homes during cold snaps.
- Wet crawl spaces after weeks of rain.
- Ceiling leaks from moss-covered and aging roofs.
- Sewer backups through older side sewer lines.
- Flooding near the shoreline during king tides and storms.
Book help in 98501
The Olympia Fire Department serves addresses inside city limits. For a water or fire damage cleanup, email info@olympiawaterdamagewa.com while our phone line is being set up. Mention your neighborhood or nearest cross street, and whether the house has a crawl space or basement.
Common questions
Does downtown Olympia flood from the tide?
It can. During the December 2022 king tide, the highest tide recorded in Olympia, sea water came over the shoreline near Percival Landing and flooded the street by the Farmers Market roundabout. City tide gates limited the flooding, and the city's Sea Level Rise Response Plan expects more frequent high-water events.
Is all of 98501 inside Olympia city limits?
No. The ZIP code also covers part of Tumwater, including Tumwater City Hall on Israel Road SW. Your water utility and fire department depend on which city the address is actually in, so check your utility bill if you are not sure.
What water problems are common in older South Capitol homes?
Restoration crews often find aging supply and drain lines, slow leaks under bathrooms and kitchens, and damp crawl spaces under houses built before modern vapor barriers. Plaster walls and original wood floors dry more slowly than drywall and need careful moisture checks.
Sources
Facts on this page come from these public sources. Rules and figures change, so check the source before you rely on them.