Stormwater Quality & Information
What is stormwater runoff?
When water falls to the earth as rain, snow or ice, most of it seeps into the ground. If the ground is frozen or saturated with water, the excess water flows over land creating stormwater runoff.
Also, rain and melted snow and ice on hard surfaces, so as roads, buildings, parking lots, and sidewalks, has nowhere to go except flow downhill to a street, storm drain, or nearby creek.
Why is stormwater runoff a concern?
Stormwater runoff is directed into storm drains that flow directly into local streams, rivers, and lakes carrying pollutants from the ground and hard surfaces. These pollutants include oil and grease, fertilizers, pesticides, pet waste, trash, and soil. The pollutants degrade the water quality and are harmful to wildlife.
What is stormwater runoff management?
Different tools and methods that increases the amount of precipitation that soaks into the ground or is captured and released slowly into nearby streams, rivers, and lakes.
Only Rain Down the Drain
STORMWATER POLLUTANTS
Household Chemicals
Household Chemicals
Cleaning solutions should not be dumped on the grass, parking lot, or down the storm drain. Follow instructions on how to properly dispose of chemicals.- Clean up any chemical or hazardous material spills before they can wash down our inlets.
- Video: MARC Water Quality - Household Chemicals
Litter & Trash
Litter & Trash
- Litter and trash in our streets and yards can end up in our streams and rivers.
- Put all trash and litter in a wastebasket or trash bag.
- Do not dump trash or trash bags into storm inlets, rivers, and streams.
- Video: MARC Water Quality - Litter
Oil, Gas & Auto Fluids
Oil, Gas & Auto Fluids
Pet & Yard Waste
Pet Waste
Yard Waste
- Do not put leaves or grass clippings down the storm sewer inlet.
- Use lawn bags, compost or mulch leaves and grass.
- Do not over apply pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Excess chemicals will runoff and end up in the stream. Less is best when it comes to yard chemical application.
- Video: MARC Water Quality - Yard Waste
Swimming Pools
Avoid polluting local water sources and keep the environment safe by draining your pool correctly:
- Swimming pools can only be discharged overground, or if permitted, to the sanitary sewer system after stopping chlorination for a minimum of 72 hours, and the pH level is between 7-8.
- Discharge water slowly across lawns, assuring that the discharge water does not negatively impact neighboring properties.
All pool backwash is prohibited by Municipal Code Section 30-123(b) to be discharged overground. Pool backwash must drain to the sanitary sewer system.
To learn more about how to drain your swimming pool responsibly, view the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's Recommended Procedures for Draining Swimming Pools PDF.
RESIDENTIAL SOLUTIONS
Lawn Care & Chemicals
Lawn Care & Chemicals
- Do not put leaves or grass clippings down the storm sewer inlet.
- Mow grass at the highest setting and leave grass clippings in place.
- Only water necessary - Water in the morning to avoid evaporation.
- Do not over apply pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Excess chemicals will runoff and end up in the stream. Less is best when it comes to yard chemical application.
- View the MARC flyer(PDF, 273KB)
EXAMPLE OF AN URBAND WATERSHED