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Through the on-going contact with citizens
in the community outreach effort, the staff
of the City of Casper receives many questions
regarding stormwater pollution, as well as
on the City's Stormwater Program in general.
The following is in response to some of the
most frequently asked questions:
- What is Stormwater?
- Stormwater is rain, melting snow, or other forms
of precipitation that fall on our land, ranches,
and businesses. The excess moisture that drains from
our yards, driveways, roofs and property is called
stormwater. Like rainwater, stormwater starts out
as clean water. As stormwater flows it can pick up
pollutants and carry them untreated, directly into
our creeks and river. Stormwater is never treated.
- What is a catch basin or storm drain?
- A catch basin or storm drain
is a curbside drain with the sole function
of collecting rainwater from our properties
and streets and sending it through underground
piping to our local waterways. Storm drains
can also be found in parking lots and serve
the same purpose. In county and city areas,
that water never goes to the sewer treatment
plant to be cleaned, but flows directly into
our creeks and river.
- Are sewers and storm drains the same things?
- Not in the City of Casper. In
the City of Casper sewers and storm drains
are two completely different drainage systems.
Sewers carry wastewater from such things as
washing machines, sinks, toilets, and showers
to a treatment plant to be cleaned prior to
being discharged into the North Platte River.
The storm drain system collects rainwater,
and anything else dumped into it, and carries
it all directly to our local waterways with
no treatment.
- Why should I care what goes down the storm
drain?
- Everyone should be concerned
about storm water quality because what we put
down the storm drain will eventually end up
in places like Garden Creek, Elkhorn Creek,
Wolf Creek, Squaw Creek, Sage Creek, Eastdale
Creek, and the North Platte River. This is
where our children play, swim, and fish. This
is also the source of our drinking water.
- Do catch basins and storm drains get cleaned
out?
- Yes, The City of Casper regularly
performs maintenance activities including cleaning
of the storm drain system. In addition, the
City of Casper crews are always available to
respond to emergency situations where clogged
drains result in localized flooding.
- Why doesn't the City of Casper clean out
all of the storm drains before a storm?
- City crews clean out clogged
catch basins throughout the year as part of
ongoing maintenance. Unfortunately, there are
just too many catch basins and not enough time.
Residents can reduce flooding in their neighborhoods
by keeping material out of the storm drain
system or clean debris around catch basins
when performing landscape maintenance.
- Why doesn't the City of Casper
install filters or screens in front of the
catch basins?
- It sounds like a good idea, but
during a rainstorm, debris (e.g. leaves, sticks,
trash) is quickly swept to the catch basin
and any screen or filtration device placed
in front of the catch basin would clog the
grate and result in flooding.
- Why isn't a net/fence/barrier installed
at the end of the storm drain channel to catch
all of the trash?
- Unfortunately, nets only catch
larger pieces of trash - all of the pollutants
like pet waste, used oil, paint, pesticides,
fertilizers, etc., flow through the net and
straight into our waterways.
- What kinds of pollutants are found in the
storm drain system?
- Human and animal feces, paint
thinner and paint products, motor oil, pesticides,
trash, paper, antifreeze, leaves, grass clippings,
cooking oil, clothes, tennis shoes, shopping
carts, tires, dirty diapers, and plastic containers
are but a few of the pollutants found in the system.
All of this flows directly into our creeks and river
untreated. This is where our children play and where
we get our drinking water.
- When was the storm
drain system built? Why?
- The storm drain system is built as the land in
Casper is developed. This is done to insure that
as the new development occurs, proper drainage is
provided.
- I see people dumping their used
oil and paint into storm drains all the time.
What can I do?
- Dumping used oil and paint is
illegal. One quart of motor oil can pollute
250,000 gallons of drinking water. Paint also
contaminates our waters. To report the problem
call the stormwater hot line at 235.8283.
- What should I do if I see a neighbor
throwing trash into a storm drain?
- The storm drain system is for
the sole purpose of collecting rainwater overflow.
Dumping trash, pollutants and debris in the
catch basins is illegal and is a federal violation
of the Clean Water Act of 1972, the Wyoming
Department of Environmental Quality, as well
as the City of Casper. A neighbor may not understand
the catch basin's direct connection to the
North Platte River and all of our other waterways.
It may be just a matter of making them aware
of the impact to our community and our drinking
water. City staff would be more than happy
to provide information to your neighbor. Call
235.8283.
- How can I properly dispose of
left-over paints, thinners, chemicals, car
batteries, used oil, etc.?
- The Special Waste and Diversion Facility at the
balefill is a state of the art collection facility
established to assist citizens to dispose of or recycle
unwanted, leftover, or used household and automotive
products. The Special Waste and Diversion
Facility is located at the City of Casper Balefill
facility, just off Metro Road, and is open to all
citizens of Natrona County. There is no charge for
dropping off waste. Reservations are needed to help
manage the storage for the type and amount
of products taken to the Facility. Call 235.8246
between 8:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. Monday
through Friday to schedule a time for drop-off
on Saturday. The drop off hours for residential
customers are on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to
3:45 p.m. only.
- Is it okay to wash my car on
the driveway if I use a biodegradable soap?
- No. Cleaning products, even if
they are biodegradable can still be toxic to
fish and stimulate algae and plant growth.
One option is to have vehicles cleaned at a
commercial car wash where wastewater flows through
sand and oil traps. When washing your car at
home, pull it up on the lawn or a graveled area
where water will leach into the ground instead
of flowing into the street gutter and the storm
drains. Always use biodegradable soaps when
washing a vehicle and conserve as much water
as possible. Shut off water while washing your
car, then rinse.
- Yard clippings and leaves are
natural, so they don't cause any problems,
right?
- Wrong. Grass, leaves and yard
clippings that are repeatedly swept into catch
basins can clog the drain, causing localized
flooding and become a potential breeding ground
for rodents and insects. Additionally, when
this material reaches our creeks and river,
it decomposes and robs the surrounding water
of oxygen. The cumulative affect of numerous
residents putting leaves, grass and yard clippings
into the street gutter or storm drain can be
overwhelming. It can turn clean stormwater
into a rotten, black, stinky soup that then
enters our creeks and river.
- Is there a fine/penalty for illegal
dumping?
- Yes. The fine will vary depending
on which local or state agency assesses the
fine. There are numerous federal, state, and
municipal laws that prohibit illegal dumping,
especially when it affects surface water quality.
The city will investigate all reports of dumping
of material into the storm drain system. Anyone
caught dumping can be cited and a stiff fine
imposed.
- What can I do to make a difference
at home?
- Amazingly enough, you can make
a huge difference in stormwater quality by
simply changing a few practices at home. Here
are six easy steps: 1) Wash your car on the
lawn, 2) Mulch your grass clippings and leave
on the lawn, 3) Sweep dirt from your driveways
and sidewalks onto the lawn, pick up debris
and put in the trash, 4) pick up your pet waste;
flush in the toilet or bag and put in the dumpster,
5) use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly
and always follow the suggested application
rate, never apply chemicals before a rain,
6) take left over paint, used oil, left over
chemicals to the Special Waste and Diversion
Facility at the balefill landfill. Check out our
publications for more tips. Remember, we all live
downstream.
- How does pet waste left on the
grass affect storm water?
- Pet waste can be picked up by
snow melt or rain as it travels into the street
gutter and down the storm drain, carrying with
it bacteria and other harmful materials into
our creeks and streams. The dog population
is the Casper area is estimated to be 11, 000
animals, creating nearly 2.5
tons of solid waste every day. Even though
you can't see it, the fecal coliform contained
in pet waste can have a cumulative affect with
hundreds if not thousands of people sending
their pet waste into the storm water. Storm
water is not treated, so this material flows
directly into our creeks and river, where our
children play, swim, and fish. The North Platte
River is the source of our drinking water.
Disposing of pet waste properly, is key to
keeping our creeks and river safe.
- Why all the fuss about stormwater
now?
- The City of Casper must comply with a new
unfunded mandate concerning stormwater regulations
from the Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality. These regulations require the City
of Casper to apply for a permit to discharge
municipal stormwater into surface waters of
the state (i.e. our creeks and river). In order
for the City of Casper to comply with this
permit the City must develop and implement
six minimum measures to ensure that our stormwater
is clean water. Clean water is not a matter
of choice - it's a matter of health, and now
it's the law.
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