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Storm Water Management Program
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COB Separate Storm Sewer System Map
What is Storm Water Management?

What is Storm Water Management?

Storm Water Management is the process of controlling the storm water (any precipitation falling from the sky or melting snow) runoff that comes primarily from impervious surfaces like parking lots, driveways, and rooftops. Rural areas are typically comprised of pervious areas, such as farmland, pastures, and woodlands. These areas absorb and infiltrate the rainfall and generate a small volume of runoff. Developed urban areas contain a higher percentage of impervious surfaces, such as pavement and rooftops. The quantity of runoff from these areas quickly overwhelms natural channels and streams causing channel erosion, localized flooding, and property damage.  One storm water management strategy is to use detention or retention ponds to help regulate the storm water runoff flow from a certain site before it discharges into natural waterways or a managed storm water system. These ponds can hold the storm water runoff or release it over a longer period of time to the natural waterways.

Storm water will often carry with it contaminants, such as motor oil and household cleaners, from the ground or hard surfaces and transport it to local waterways. The storm water management system is designed to transport storm water directly from the streets into local creeks and rivers with little or no treatment. In the City of Bellefontaine, the storm sewers are separate from the sanitary sewer system.

Why Worry About Storm Water Pollution?

Why Worry About Storm Water Management?

​One of the most important factors to consider in storm water management is preventing pollution by supporting good water quality. This is essential to supporting both ecosystem and community health, function and resiliency.

Storm water picks up any debris, chemicals, dirt, or other pollutants in its path. These pollutants then enter the storm sewers and go directly to our lakes, streams, and rivers; not to a water treatment plant to remove these pollutants. 

  • Trash and debris can kill aquatic life, such as ducks, fish, turtles, and birds. 

  • Sediment clouds the water destroying aquatic habitats.

  • Human sewage and animal waste add harmful bacteria such as E. Coli and viruses that pollute the water. 

  • Chemicals from household wastes like fertilizers, pesticides, paint solvents, used motor oil, and other motor fluids can poison aquatic life.

​Mandated by state law and enforced by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA), the City of Bellefontaine’s Storm Water Management Program is a comprehensive program designed to protect properties and aquatic resources from damage caused by increased volume, frequency and peak rate of storm water runoff. It is the City of Bellefontaine’s goal to protect these resources from erosion, sedimentation and illicit discharges.

When you’re washing your car in the driveway, remember you’re not just washing your car in the driveway.All the soap, scum, and oily grit from washing a car runs along the curb and then into the storm drain. The storm drain leads directly into our streams, rivers and lakes carrying the water pollution which is unhealthy for fish. So how do you avoid this whole mess? Easy. Wash your car on grass or gravel instead of on your concrete/asphalt driveway or on the street. Or better yet, take it to a carwash where the water gets treated and recycled. CLEAN WATER IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US t’s up to all of us to make it happen. In recent years sources of water pollution like industrial wastes from factories have been greatly reduced. Now, more than 60% of water pollution comes from things like cars leaking oil, fertilizers from farms and gardens, and failing septic tanks. All of these sources add up to a big pollution problem. But each of us can do small things to help clean up our water too – and that adds up to a pollution solution! WHY DO WE NEED CLEAN WATER? Having clean water is of primary importance for our health and economy. Clean water provides recreation, commercial opportunities, fish habitat, drinking water and adds beauty to our landscape. All of us benefit from clean water – and all of us have a role in getting and keeping our lakes, rivers, marine and ground waters clean.WHAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH CAR WASHING? There’s no problem with washing your car. It’s just how and where you do it. Most soap contains phosphates and other chemicals that harm fish and water quality. The soap, together with the dirt and oil washed from your car, flows into nearby storm drain which run directly into lakes, rivers, or marine waters. The phosphates from the soap can cause excess algae to grow. Algae look bad, smell bad, and harm water quality. As algae decay, the process uses up oxygen in the water that fish need. How can you wash your car and help keep our waters clean? Use soap sparingly. Use a hose with a trigger to save water. Pour your bucket of soapy water down the sink when you’re done, not in the street. Wash yourcar on a grassy area so the ground can filter the water naturally. Best of all, take your car to a commercial car wash, especially if you plan to clean the engine or the bottom of your car. Most car washes re-use wash water several times before sending it to the sewer system for treatment.