1. Why should I be concerned about polluted streams?
2. How can I support clean water efforts?
3. How can I protect my watershed?
4. What is the difference between ground water and storm water runoff?
5. How is water from a sanitary sewer system different from storm water runoff or from a storm drain?
6. Who can I contact for information?
7. Who should I call to report a source of pollution or drainage problem?

It is against the law to discharge pollutants into (1) the storm drainage system (2) surface water and (3) groundwater. Streams serve as a natural habitat and a source of food to many animals, fish and aquatic life. Pollution will kill a stream and everything that uses it for survival. A stream filled with debris from construction sites, illegal dumping of paint, overuse of pesticides, herbicides, dumping of tires, and scrap metal, or a stream that is choking with sediment from unchecked erosion, suffers because these items contaminate water-causing death or illness to fish, interrupting their reproductive cycle causing the stream or waterway to fill up. When that happens, the stream dies. Pollutants also contaminate drinking water supplies. Antifreeze, detergents, and oils actually change the chemical makeup of water causing destruction not only to fish, but also to the surrounding habitat for plants and animals.

How can I support clean water efforts?

• Be an advocate for your water resources at local community planning efforts.
• Join a watershed planning group.
• Participate in household hazardous waste pickup days.
• Support community organizations and events that protect water resources such as Clean Stream.
• Share your knowledge with neighbors.
• Use good pollution control practices at home.

How can I protect my watershed?

The choices we make around our home will have an impact on our local streams. Some things you can do are:

• Dispose of grass clippings and yard waste properly by composting or bagging it for yard waste pick up.
• Make sure your septic system is maintained and inspected regularly. Do not dispose of household chemicals through the septic drain field.
• Discharge pool water into a sanitary sewer system, not into a storm drain and not directly into a stream. Allow pool water to run onto a landscaped area where it can soak into the ground.
• Wash your car in a grassy area and use phosphorus-free detergents.
• Dispose of paints, stains, solvents, motor oil, pesticides and cleaning products by participating in household hazardous waste collection days.
• Pick up and dispose of pet waste so it is not washed off in storm water runoff.
• Use good erosion control practices so sediment is not washed into streams. Plant grass or ground cover where water washes soil. Plant trees and shrubs to help absorb storm water. Make sure storm drains are open and gutters drain into an area that absorbs water well. Put a rain garden in a low-lying area or more that 10 feet below the gutter flow to absorb runoff.

What is the difference between ground water and storm water runoff?

Ground water is rainwater that has had a chance to be absorbed into the ground where it "percolates" through the ground layers. This natural cleansing process removes most of the pollutants before they enter streams.

Porous soil layers, detention areas, and forested areas help absorb rainwater and greatly eliminates a lot of damaging storm water runoff.

Groundwater has a chance to seep into the ground layers eventually draining into the streams as a natural process that provides a steady flow of "clean" water to streams.

Runoff is rainwater that runs over the landscape picking up any pollutants that may be on the ground surface and carries these pollutants directly into the nearest stream.

Runoff occurs when (1) there is an increase in impervious cover (rooftops, driveways, parking lots, etc.), (2) when soil is compacted by heavy construction equipment, or (3) when land is cleared by removing plants and trees that would normally help absorb rainwater.

When rainwater cannot be absorbed naturally into the ground layers, rainwater runoff enters the streams too quickly causing erosion and flooding conditions.

How is water from a sanitary sewer system different from storm water runoff or from a storm drain?

Sanitary sewer drains are designed to drain water from inside our homes (household wastewater. The sanitary sewer drains lead to the sanitary sewer system and end up at a wastewater treatment plant. Unlike storm water runoff from yards, streets, parking lots, etc., wastewater in this system is treated before being discharged into a natural water body.

Surface water runoff also called storm water runoff flows on top of yards, parking lots, streets, etc. In suburban areas, storm water runoff enters a storm drain that takes water directly to the nearest water body. Water in a storm drain is untreated so it contains all pollutants picked up by storm water runoff directly to the nearest creek or lake.

Who can I contact for information?

You can contact the County Storm Water Program Office at 636-797-6228 or your local city government offices. Educational programs are available as well as publications that address pollution control practices.

Who should I call to report a source of pollution or drainage problem?

If you are within city limits, contact your city government office. If you are outside of city limits call the Stormwater Management Program at 636-797-6228 or

Report spills or illegal discharges to the Department of Natural Resources at 314-301-7100 Report sewage problems to the Building Department at 636-797-5310 Report solid waste dumping to the Solid Waste Department at 636-797-6036 For recycling information, contact the County Recycling Coordinator at 636-797-5043.