Storm water is water from rain or melting snow. It flows from rooftops, over paved streets, sidewalks and parking lots, across bare soil, and through lawns and storm drains. As it flows, runoff collects and transports soil, pet waste, salt, pesticides, fertilizer, oil and grease, litter and other pollutants. This water drains directly into our lake. Polluted storm water runoff can have many adverse effects on plants, fish, animals, and people.
The public plays an active role in helping keep storm water clean. The best way to protect our water sources through storm water management is to limit what enters storm sewers and waterways. Anything that enters a storm sewer system is discharged untreated into the lake we use for swimming, fishing, and boating. The primary method to control storm water quality is through the use of best management practices (BMP).
The Best Management Practices the City of Carter Lake has in place currently:
How to Help Prevent Storm Water Runoff Pollution:
What is storm water? Storm water is rainwater and snowmelt that drains into storm drains found at street corners or the low points on the sides of city streets. Unlike the water we use inside our homes, storm water receives NO treatment before it enters a body of water like a lake, creek, or river. Why should I care what goes down the storm drain? Everyone should be concerned with what goes down their storm drain because it ends up in our lake, where residents swim, boat, and fish. Pollution of storm water can and does result in the death of fish and impacts the quality and the depth of our lake. What is a watershed? A watershed is an area of land which drains to the same place, such as a river, lake, or stream. Water that is not absorbed by the land after rainfall or a snow event runs along the surface of the land and this water is known as storm water runoff.
Everyone should be concerned with what goes down their storm drain because it ends up in our lake, where residents swim, boat, and fish. Pollution of storm water can and does result in the death of fish and impacts the quality and the depth of our lake.
Picking up dog poop may be unpleasant but try drinking it!!!
Pet waste washes into our storm drains and pollutes our lakes. Please pick up after your pet at home and in the parks. The City provides pet waste stations in all our parks, and we encourage you to use them. Protect water quality by learning more and doing more at www.iowastormwater.org