Storm Water Management

Managing Storm Water in the Community

Storm water runoff poses a serious risk to our water quality. Developing and implementing a storm water runoff management plan is imperative to preventing pollutants found in storm water from impacting rivers, lakes, streams and drinking water throughout the community. The City of Hiawatha is doing its part to try and monitor and control storm water pollution. Storm Water Telephone Hotline Number: 319-393-1515 ext. 229.

What is Storm Water Runoff?

Storm water runoff happens when rainfall or snowmelt flows over impervious surfaces like roads, buildings, sidewalks and compacted soils preventing it from naturally soaking into the ground.

The Problem

Storm water can flow directly into the storm sewer carrying with it pollutants and debris that is discharged into surface water bodies such as rivers, lakes and streams without being treated at a water treatment plant.

Storm Water Management

Our city is required to manage storm water for both water quality and flood control by using practices that infiltrate both small and large amounts of rainfall to minimize the amount of runoff that is produced.

Storm Water Regulations in our City

In order to comply with federal and state regulations, the City is required to implement a storm water management program targeting the six areas listed below in an effort to reduce water pollution.

  1. Public Education and Outreach on Storm water Impacts,
  2. Public Involvement and Participation,
  3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination,
  4. Construction Site Storm water Runoff Control,
  5. Post-Construction Storm water Management, and
  6. Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping.

Doing Our Part to Reduce Storm Water Pollution

Simply changing your daily activities can have a big impact on protecting water quality. The following are some suggestions to help reduce storm water pollution in the community:

  1. Wash your car at a carwash or in your yard, not the driveway,
  2. Re-direct roof drains so that they drain onto your own property and dissipate into the soil
  3. Properly dispose of all hazardous household waste
  4. Minimize use of fertilizers and pesticides on lawns
  5. Pick up and dispose of pet waste properly

These brochures contain detailed information regarding top soil management, storm water and erosion control management.

For more information on storm water please visit the Iowa Storm water Education Partnership website.

Click the links below for information regarding Storm water Regulations, Erosion and Sediment Control, etc.