HOW DOES STORMWATER QUALITY AFFECT YOU AS A RESIDENT OR BUSINESS OWNER?

Did you know? 

• Clean water is a precious resource that we all take for granted far too often. Our thirst for clean water is enormously insatiable. Each year there are more and more people requiring clean water to drink, cook, bathe, clean and manufacture goods.
• Unlike wastewater, stormwater is not treated at a sewage treatment plant. Anything dumped or placed on the ground is carried away by stormwater runoff and will end up in the City's storm drains which discharge into our ditches, reservoirs, creeks, ponds, lakes and rivers.
• Leaves, grass clippings and other yard wastes cause elevated levels of nutrients in our waterways and is harmful to fish and aquatic organisms. Properly disposing of these materials will prevent them from entering the City's storm drains. Place them in your compost pile for use next spring in your vegetable flowers, and gardens.
• Pet waste left on the ground contains high concentrations of bacteria and can be carried by stormwater runoff into our ditches, reservoirs, creeks, ponds, lakes and rivers, which is harmful to fish and aquatic organisms. Bag it up and place it in the garbage or flush it.
• Salt and other chemicals to remove snow and ice is carried by stormwater runoff into our ditches, reservoirs, creeks, ponds, lakes and rivers and increases nutrient levels, which is harmful to fish, aquatic organisms, and other animals who depend on clean water for their health.
• Applying lawn and garden chemicals sparingly and according to the directions not only saves you money, but helps protect our ditches, reservoirs, creeks, ponds, lakes and rivers. Over application adds to the nutrient levels in these waterways and is harmful to fish and other animals who depend on clean water for their health.

It’s our water, City of Wheat Ridge. Let’s keep it clean.