Frequently Asked Questions

A watershed is a defined land area that captures rainfall and other precipitation and funnels it to a particular river, lake, or stream. Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. They cross county, state, and national boundaries. No matter where you are, you're in a watershed.

Storm water is rainfall that flows over our yards, streets, alleys, parking lots, and buildings, and enters the storm drain (or gutter) in your street.

Storm drains are the openings (gutters) you see along curbs and in streets and parking lots. They collect rainwater to keep the street from flooding, and then carry the water through the storm drain system to nearby waterways, like streams, rivers, and lakes. Water, trash, and other debris that enter storm drains do not go to a treatment facility, they empty directly into the nearest water body.

Storm water runs off our streets, parking lots, and yards and into drainage ditches, gutters, storm pipes, and other drains, which transport the storm water directly to our creeks, lakes, and the Trinity River.

As stormwater flows over the ground and into the nearest storm drain, it picks up fertilizers, motor oil, industrial chemicals, grass clippings, litter, pet waste, and anything else that might be in its path. The storm drain system then takes the water and pollutants straight into the nearest water body. Some people illegally dump trash, yard clippings, used cooking oil, motor oil, and other pollutants into storm drains, adding to the contamination. Anything that goes into a storm drain will eventually empty into the nearest creek, lake, or river; it does not go to a water treatment facility.

As rainfall runoff moves over and through the ground, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants; these pollutants include:

• Excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas
• Motor oil, grease, paints, soap, pool chemicals, and other toxic chemicals
• Grass clippings and yard waste
• Sediment (dirt) from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding stream banks
• Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and faulty septic systems and wastewater collection system facilities

States report that storm water pollution is the leading remaining cause of water quality problems. The effects of storm water pollution on specific waters vary and may not always be fully known. However, we know that these pollutants have harmful effects on drinking water supplies, recreation, and wildlife.

The wastewater collection and storm water systems are separate. Wastewater is the used water that drains from toilets, sinks, household drains, and some industrial drains. The wastewater travels through wastewater collection pipes to a wastewater treatment plant where it is treated to strict quality standards before it is released into a water body. Water that goes into the stormwater system does not go to a treatment facility.

No, stormwater is not treated by any local government in North Central Texas. It drains untreated directly into the nearest creek, river, or lake where you live.

It is illegal to dump garbage anywhere other than a legally authorized location. Dumping garbage in places like along a roadside, in a ditch, storm drain, or in a vacant lot is against the law. It's illegal to let anyone dump garbage on your property and littering is also against the law. Punishments for illegal dumping can include fines, jail time, and loss of the vehicle used by the violator. Dumping trash in unauthorized locations can lead to a number of health and safety concerns and can become a stormwater problem. Improperly disposed waste can be picked up by storm water and carried into our local waterways, harming water quality. Illegal dumping also fosters a negative image in a community. People are much more likely to dump on property where a dump site already exists. Not to mention the high costs for clean-up can run into the thousands or even millions of dollars! When county workers clean up litter and illegal dumps, your tax dollars are spent to clean up somebody else's garbage and cannot be used for other, more urgent needs.

Stormwater management in your city may be handled by the public works, health, engineering or environmental management department.