Click on: Storm Water Management PSA

Management of stormwater runoff has become an increasingly important responsibility for local governments. Recently enacted Federal and State stormwater regulations, combined with aging drainage infrastructure, have resulted in local governments, like the City of Ottawa, developing and implementing more comprehensive stormwater management programs to achieve regulatory and drainage ditches that empty into our creeks and streams. The result is increased stream flows, higher flooding potential and degradation of water quality. compliance and address recurring drainage system problems.

Rainwater that flows over rooftops, sidewalks, parking lots, streets, driveways, yards and other surfaces is stormwater runoff. Typical development practices replace soil with impervious surfaces, or areas that cannot absorb rainfall, causing more stormwater to run off the land rather than soaking into the soil. Excess stormwater runoff flows into gutters, storm sewers.

Pollutants collect upon impervious areas, which eventually wash into our streams via stormwater runoff. Not only are impervious surfaces the single most important factor affecting the amount of stormwater runoff, they are one of the most important factors influencing water quality. As more development occurs in the City, creating more impervious surface, an overload is placed on the existing stormwater system. The effective management of stormwater is necessary to protect the general public from poor water quality, damage from flooding, and other threats to property and safety.

The City of Ottawa must comply with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II stormwater permit, which requires certain activities be implemented. These unfunded mandates require the City to undertake specific compliance activities to monitor stormwater and reduce the discharge of stormwater pollution to local bodies of water.

Below depicts a picture of the City addressing a stormwater project at the low water crossing on West Second Street. The City does not currently have a dedicated funding source for stormwater projects. Funds were taken from the Street Rehabilitation budget in October of 2009 to complete this project.

Visit Kansas Stormwater Website.