Stormwater runoff happens when rain or melting snow flows over the ground instead of soaking in. Hard surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and streets block water from absorbing into the soil, causing it to run off instead of naturally soaking into the ground.
What is Stormwater Runoff?
Why is Stormwater Runoff a Problem?
As stormwater flows, it can carry trash, chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants into storm drains or directly into lakes, streams, rivers, and wetlands. Storm drains do not treat this water, so anything that goes in flows straight into the waterways we use for swimming, fishing, and drinking water.
Polluted stormwater runoff can have many negative effects on plants, fish, animals, and people.
- Bacteria and other pathogens can wash into swimming areas and create health hazards.
- Debris and plastic, such as plastic bags, six-pack rings, bottles, and cigarette butts-washed into waterbodies can choke, suffocate or disable aquatic life like ducks, fish, turtles, and birds.
- Household hazardous waste like insecticides, pesticides, paint, solvents, used motor oil, and other auto fluids can poison aquatic life. Land animals and people can become sick or die from eating diseased fish and shellfish or ingesting polluted water.
- Polluted stormwater often affects drinking water sources. This, in turn, can affect human health and increase water treatment costs.
- Sediment can cloud the water and make it difficult or impossible for aquatic plants to grow. Sediment also can change how water flows and destroy aquatic habitats.
- Nutrients are substances like nitrogen and phosphorus that help plants grow. They come from things like fertilizers, pet waste, and sewage. Too many nutrients in the water can cause too much algae to grow, turning the water green and blocking the sunlight from reaching aquatic life. When the algae die, they sink and break down, using up the oxygen in the water. Without enough oxygen, fish and other aquatic life cannot survive. Some algae can make toxins. These toxins can be harmful to people, pets, and wildlife. They can make water unsafe for swimming, fishing, or drinking.
How You Can Help Keep Stormwater Clean
Residential Tips
- Pick up animal waste when walking your dog. Leaving pet waste on the ground increases public health risks by allowing harmful bacteria to wash into the storm drain and eventually into local waterbodies.
- Use a commercial carwash, instead of washing your car at home, because these facilities recycle water and properly treat the water runoff, sending it to a wastewater plant.
- Don’t dispose of household hazardous waste in storm drains, interior sinks, or toilets. For proper disposal, household hazardous wastes can be brought to El Paso County’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility, located at 3255 Akers Drive.
- Use fertilizers such as nitrogen and phosphorus on lawns sparingly. Never apply fertilizers right before a storm event.
- Compost, mulch, or bag your yard waste. Don’t sweep leaves in the street, storm drains or streams.
- Cover temporary piles of dirt or mulch being used in landscaping projects. Never store materials in the street. This is a safety hazard as well as excess irrigation water or rain may wash the materials along the curb flow into the storm system.
- Don’t wash trash cans in the street or driveway if the dirty water can run into the storm drain. The dirty water can carry food waste, grease, chemicals, germs, and soap into our waterways. To help protect our waterways, wash trash cans on grass or gravel where the water can soak into the ground, or take them to a car wash that sends water to a treatment plant.
- If applicable, inspect your septic system every 3 years and pump the tank as necessary (every 3 to 5 years). When septic tanks are not inspected or pumped regularly, they can leak or overflow. This can release nutrients, bacteria, and germs into the soil. During rain or snowmelt, those pollutants can wash into nearby ditches, streams, and storm drains.
Commercial/Agriculture Tips
- Sweep up litter and debris from sidewalks, driveways and parking lots, especially around storm drains.
- Do not powerwash drive-thru areas or dumpster areas without collecting the wastewater and disposing it properly to protect the environment. Consult with a licensed professional prior performing outdoor washing activities and establish clear standard operation procedures for employees.
- Report any chemical spill to the local hazardous waste cleanup team. They know the best way to keep spills from harming the environment.
- Never pour oil or grease down a storm drain, into a dumpster, or onto a parking lot or street. Waste cooking oil and other grease products must be properly contained and recycled or disposed of.
- Do not rinse or wash grease contaminated floor mats into the street or storm drain. Wastewater from cleaning floor mats must be properly contained and recycled or disposed of.
- Store and apply manure away from waterbodies.
- Keep livestock away from streambanks. Instead, provide them with a water source away from natural water bodies.
- Helpful agricultural links to explore:
