Part one of a two-part series on stormwater

With spring rains upon us, it’s time to discuss a topic that affects us all: stormwater.

It’s a complex issue tied to geographic and hydrological conditions, ecological concerns, community consciousness, urbanization, government regulations, aging infrastructure, engineering challenges and economic constraints.

In this column, we’ll take an educational approach to stormwater. Next month, Steve Hunt, environmental services manager for Public Works, will discuss future considerations for stormwater utility management.

When it rains, the water and debris that run along the gutters on your street seem to disappear down the storm drains. But have you ever wondered where the water goes from there?

Sometimes called “storm sewers,” these drainage systems are different from sanitary sewers, which carry wastewater directly to the water treatment plant. Storm sewers flow directly into our local watershed with no treatment.

No matter where you are in Columbia or Boone County, you are in a watershed. Simply put, a watershed is the area of land that drains to a given point. For example, your gutters drain to a local stream and then to the Missouri River. Separated by high points such as hills or ridges, watersheds include both the waterway and the land area that drains to it.

Watersheds are everywhere, from your driveway, to the local park, to the shopping mall, to the creek down the road. All storm sewers drain directly to local waterways, such as Hominy Branch, Hinkson Creek, Gans Creek, Flat Branch and the Missouri River.

How does urbanization change a watershed?

Urbanization (or development) changes how water flows and what flows in the water. As a watershed becomes developed, trees, shrubs and plants are replaced with impervious surfaces (roads, buildings, parking lots, lawns and other hard surfaces) that do not allow stormwater to soak into the ground.

Without the plants to store and slow the flow of stormwater, the rate of runoff is increased. As a result, greater volumes of water reach the waterway faster, and less water infiltrates to ground water. This leads to more flooding after storms and reduced stream flows during dry periods.

In the stream, more erosion of stream banks and scouring of channels will occur due to volume increase. This, in turn, degrades habitat for plant and animal life as sediment from eroded stream banks clogs the gills of fish, smothers aquatic insects and blocks light needed for plants.

With increased runoff, contaminants reach waterways more quickly. This includes litter, cigarette butts and debris from sidewalks and streets, motor oil from leaking cars, heavy metals from brake linings, settled air pollutants from car exhaust, pesticides and fertilizers from lawn care.

What is watershed management?

The watershed management approach seeks to protect water resources by taking into account the entire watershed and everyone who lives in it. Successful watershed management requires the participation and involvement of the entire community, including industry, government, business and citizens.

One of the first steps is problem identification. Once the problems and their causes have been identified, practical solutions must be chosen. Once solutions have been identified, they must be implemented. This can be the most difficult part of the process. How can implementation be ensured? Who will carry out the plan? Is the community committed to implementing the plan? Are there resources available to do it?

Watershed protection: What you can do today

One way you can protect the watershed is to reduce non-point source pollution. Non-point source pollution, or “people pollution,” results from everyday activities such as over-fertilizing lawns, blowing grass clippings or leaves into the street, littering, not picking up after pets and dumping hazardous chemicals into storm drains. With each rainfall, pollutants generated by these activities wash directly into the watershed. They can also soak into the ground and contaminate the ground water below. Remember, this is the water from which we swim, fish, eat and drink. It’s a resource we all need and should protect.

Simple changes in daily lifestyle can make a tremendous difference in the quality of the city of Columbia’s water resources. Here are a few ways you can reduce non-point source pollution:

• Place litter in trash receptacles. Never throw litter, including cigarette butts and fast food containers, in streets, parking lots or down storm drains.

• Recycle as much as possible.

• Don’t blow grass clippings or leaves into streets to be washed away. They can clog drainage systems and choke waterways.

• Avoid the overuse of fertilizers. Do not apply them before a heavy rainfall. Do a soil test to see if fertilizers are necessary. Fertilizers contain nitrates and phosphates that can cause blooms of algae that can lead to fish kills.

• Use alternatives to pesticides whenever possible. If you use a pesticide, follow the label directions carefully as these products can be toxic to humans, animals, aquatic organisms and plants.

• Pick up after your pet. Use newspapers, bags or scoopers to pick up after pets, and dispose of waste in the garbage, not the storm drain. Animal waste contains bacteria, viruses and nutrients that can impair waterways. Picking up after our pet isn’t a choice; it’s a responsibility.

• Dispose of household hazardous waste properly. Do not pour household hazardous products down any drain or toilet. Do not discard it with regular household trash. The city’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 1313 Lakeview is open the first and third Saturdays of the month, now through November. You can drop off items at no charge from 8 a.m. to noon. Call 874-6291.

• Recycle all used motor oil. Do not dump used motor oil down storm drains or on the ground. Take it to the Hazardous Waste Facility or a private recycling center. If your car leaks oil or other toxic liquids, get it fixed.

• Wash your car only when necessary. Consider using a commercial car wash that recycles its wash water. At home, use a non-phosphate detergent, and wash it in a place where the water will soak into the ground.

What’s next for stormwater management?

The city’s stormwater utility has initiated studies and has created a business plan to address our aging stormwater infrastructure and stormwater practices. These issues will be the topic of our May 28 City View column.