What is Storm Water?

Storm Water and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II

Storm water discharges are generated by runoff from land and impervious areas such as paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops during rainfall and snow events that often contain pollutants in quantities that could adversely affect water quality. Most storm water discharges are considered point sources and require coverage by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The primary method to control storm water discharges is through the use of best management practices (BMPs).

Under the NPDES General Permit for Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4), most communities are required to submit Phase II storm water management programs to detail how each individual community will comply with the Phase II mandates. These regulations require designated communities to develop and implement a storm water management plan. This program is composed of six minimum control measures:

1.    Public Education
2.    Public Involvement
3.    Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
4.    Construction Site Runoff Control
5.    Post Construction Site Runoff Control
6.    Good Housekeeping

Where does our water go? All of the water we use inside our home goes directly to the sewer system to a treatment plant where it is cleaned and released back into our steams and rivers cleaner than when it started.

How about the water from our yards, driveways, roads, ditches and parking lots? Where does this water go? It is not always easy to see after it goes down the drain, but often the rain water that falls in our yard overflows into a stream before it can be cleaned.

Rain water picks up trash and pollution—including oil and antifreeze drips from our driveway, excess fertilizer from our yards, and litter and dog waste. Once it is picked up by the rain, it moves through ditches, street gutters, and pipes to our streams, rivers, and lakes where it can cause health and safety problems for us and our children.

Because we live near Lake Erie most of our water in Northeast Ohio flows from our streams to the Lake. When you live near a stream, what you do in your yard affects the health of fish and wildlife in your stream. It also affects the health of the Lake and your safety when you visit the beach.

What can we do to keep our streams and Lake Erie healthy and safe for our use? Keep the pollutants out of rain water.

Check out the all the ways you can keep your water clean, fix drainage problems, and save money from the information below:

Storm Water Articles

Got Grass? Mow High (pdf - 86kb)

When Your Pet Goes on the Lawn (pdf - 278kb)

Storm Water Runoff - Slow it Down, Spread it Out, Soak it In (pdf - 141kb)

Watersheds (pdf - 119kb)

Storm Water Pollution is Death by 1,000 Cuts (pdf - 87kb)

Stream Friendly Snow Removal (pdf - 64kb)

Hold the Phosphorous (pdf - 78kb)

Wash Your Car the Right Way (pdf - 97kb)

Rake It...or Leave It! (pdf - 329kb)

Headwater Streets (pdf - 408kb)

Spring Cleaning - Proper Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste
(pdf - 108kb)

Car Care for Cleaner Water (pdf - 143kb)

Fall Leaf CleanUp Tips (pdf - 226kb)

Illegal Dumping - A Serious Issue (pdf - 359kb)

Storm Water Posters

Headwater Streams (pdf - 724kb)

Seven Simple Steps to Clean Water (pdf - 1,678kb)

Preventing Polluted Runoff Is Everyone's Business (pdf - 995kb)

Storm Water - Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In (pdf - 613kb)

Steer Clear of Pollutants (pdf - 1,464kb)

Storm Water Banners
In 2011, the Northeast Ohio Public Involvement Public Education (NEOPIPE) workgroup received a grant from the Ohio Environmental Education Fund (OEEF) to create a series of banners and an accompanying brochure. The banners and brochure are used at events, presentations and workshops to educate the public about storm water pollution and solutions.

Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District Banner (pdf - 308kb)

Clean Storm Water Starts at Home (pdf - 318kb)

It's Not Hard to Have a Healthy Yard (pdf - 319kb)

Steer Clear of Pollutants (pdf - 286kb)

Storm Water (pdf - 319kb)

What is a Watershed? (pdf - 326kb)

Brochure will be posted soon.

In 2011, the Cuyahoga SWCD focused our outreach on Steer Clear of Pollutants. Illicit discharges to the community storm sewer system and drainage network convey pollutants such as oil, gas and other automotive fluids, soapy water and undertreated sewage directly to local rivers and lakes.

In 2010, the Cuyahoga SWCD focused outreach on Headwater Streets - Mimicking the Functions of Headwater Streams and Wetlands - Where Rivers Begin - in the Developed Community.
For for information on Headwater Streets, click here.

In 2009, the Cuyahoga SWCD focused outreach on Low Impact Development. Low Impact Development comprises a set of site design approaches and small-scale storm water management practices that are designed to reduce runoff and associated pollutants from the site at which they are generated. For more information on Low Impact Development, click here.

For additional information on storm water issues, visit the Green City Blue Lake website.

Please call Cuyahoga SWCD to learn more about the educational opportunities and resources we have to offer. Requests for presentations and/or resources are on an availability basis.
- First Come First Served Basis -