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Gem Lake News Page 3 of 6 <br /> <br /> Storm Sewers: Where Does the Water Go? <br /> <br />Storm sewers do not get a lot of attention. We drive and <br />bike past them on the roads. We encounter them while <br />walking or jogging. There may even be one on a street <br />near your home. But have you ever thought about what <br />the storm sewer does or where the water goes? <br /> <br />During rain events or when the snow melts each spring, <br />we may see water rushing down the street and flowing <br />into the storm sewer. That is the entry point, the catch <br />basin, which ultimately delivers the water to a public <br />waterway, often miles away from your street. That’s it. <br />The water has a direct path from the street to a public <br />waterway, be it a lake, river, stream, or the ocean. That’s <br />also the challenge, as this water is not treated or <br />processed in any way. <br /> <br />If there is oil from a leaky engine or fertilizer or pet waste <br />from a yard, or road salt, or numerous other <br />contaminants from homeowners, farms, and businesses, <br />it all is carried with the water into that public waterway. If <br />that waterway also serves as the source for municipal <br />drinking water, those contaminants will enter the <br />processing facility for removal or neutralization. <br /> <br />Hopefully, this will prevent drinking water contamination. <br />But that public waterway is still contaminated. Fish swim <br />and waterfowl nest near those untreated contaminants <br />picked up by the water on its journey. People may eat <br />those fish or those waterfowl and unintentionally ingest <br />the contaminants carried into the water via the storm <br />sewer. <br /> <br />Cities, counties, and other governmental entities are <br />required to have plans in place to manage storm sewers <br />as part of their municipal separate storm sewer system <br />(MS4) permits. Among the permit requirements are <br />storm sewer catch basin inspections, but these can only <br />go so far. To best prevent contaminants from entering <br />the storm sewer system, make sure our automobiles do <br />not leak oil, select environmentally-friendly fertilizers, <br />clean up pet waste, and never dump anything into a <br />storm sewer catch basin. <br /> <br />Learn more about storm sewers at: <br /> <br />https://www.epa.gov/npdes/npdes-stormwater-program <br /> <br />https://www.pca.state.mn.us/business-with-us/municipal- <br />stormwater-ms4 <br /> <br />https://www.vlawmo.org/ <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />This Stormwater graphic found at Minnesota Pollution <br />Control Agency MS4 website. <br /> <br />Article written by Gem Lake Council Member Jim Lindner <br />