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Environmental Risk Assessment Guide — Fact Sheet 2 muextension.missouri.edu/xplor/
How to Manage and
Control Storm Water Runoff
This fact sheet examines Why should you
potential risks to the environment
and your health from storm water be concerned?
runoff. Two areas are covered: Polluted storm water degrades
Part 1. Reducing pollutants in our lakes, wetlands and rivers.
runoff. Pollutants can include Soil clouds water and degrades
pesticides and chemicals, automo- habitat for fish and water plants.
tive wastes, grass clippings and Nutrients such as phosphorus and
yard waste, pet and animal nitrogen promote the growth of
manure, and winter salt and de- algae, which crowds out other
icers. aquatic life. Toxic chemicals, such
Part 2. Landscaping and site as antifreeze and oil from leaking
management to control runoff. cars, carelessly applied pesticides,
Some ways to help control runoff and zinc from galvanized metal
are preventing soil erosion, pro- gutters and downspouts, threaten
viding basement flood protection, the health of fish and other aquat-
landscaping, providing proper ic life. Bacteria and parasites from
roof drainage, and minimizing pet manure can make nearby
paved surfaces. lakes and bays unsafe for wading
Completing this fact sheet will and swimming after storms.
help you evaluate how storm As many people have discov-
water affects the environmental ered, storm water can be a prob-
quality of your property and You don’t need a heavy rain- lem closer to home. It can flow
properties downstream. You will storm to send pollutants rushing into basements and cause damage
also learn ways to reduce pollu- toward streams, wetlands, lakes that is difficult and costly to clean
tion risks. and oceans. A garden hose alone up. Storm water can also flow
can supply enough water. down a poorly sealed well shaft
Even if your house is not on a and contaminate drinking water.
waterfront, storm drains and sew- In areas with very porous soils or
What is storm water? ers efficiently convey runoff from geology, pollutants in runoff may
Storm water is water from rain your neighborhood to the nearest reach groundwater.
or melting snow that does not body of water. Contrary to popu- Public officials are focusing
soak into the ground. It flows lar belief, most storm sewers do pollution control efforts on storm
from rooftops, over paved areas not carry storm water to waste- water management in urban and
and bare soil, and through sloped water treatment plants (see figure rural areas. Storm water pollution
lawns. As it flows, this runoff col- 2.1 on page 2). Storm and sanitary cannot be treated in the same way
lects and transports soil, pet sewers may be combined in some as water pollution from discharge
manure, salt, pesticides, fertilizer, older communities. pipes, because it comes from
oil and grease, leaves, litter and many sources (see table on page 2).
other potential pollutants. It is carried by storm water
from every street, parking lot,
sidewalk, driveway, yard and gar-
den. The problem can only be
solved with everyone’s help.
Published by MU Extension, University of Missouri-Columbia Fact Sheet 2 EQM102
Figure 2.1. Runoff that flows into
storm sewers goes directly to
streams and lakes without treatment.
Storm Water: Part 1 Common sources of storm water pollutants
Reducing pollutants in runoff POLLUTANT COMMON SOURCES
Storm water is unavoidable, Silt, sand, and clay Construction sites; bare spots in lawns and gardens;
but its effects can be reduced by particles and other wastewater from washing cars and trucks on drive-
keeping harmful chemicals and debris. ways or parking lots; unprotected stream banks.
materials out of runoff. This sec- Nutrients Over-used or spilled fertilizers; pet manure; grass
tion reviews potential sources of clippings and leaves left on streets and sidewalks;
contamination and offers ways to leaves burned in ditches.
minimize them. Disease organisms Pet manure and garbage.
When you finish reading this Hydrocarbons Car and truck exhaust; leaks and spills of oil and
section, fill out the work sheet to gas; burning leaves and garbage.
help identify storm water risks on Pesticides Pesticides over-applied or applied before a rain-
your property. storm; spills and leaks.
Metals Cars and trucks (brakes and tire wear, exhaust);
galvanized metal gutters and downspouts.
Where does storm water go?
The next time you are home
during a rain shower, head out- water soak into the ground quick- open water. Note whether runoff
doors with your boots and ly, or does it puddle in places and flows onto your land from adja-
umbrella and watch where the flow off lawns and driveways? cent streets, lands or storm water
rainwater goes. Your soil type affects water infil- systems. If you live at or near the
On a sketch of your property, tration (soaking into the ground). bottom of a hill, you may have
draw arrows showing the direc- As you might expect, water infil- special problems. Be sure to go
tion that storm water flows off trates sandy soil quickly but has a out during more than one rain
driveways, rooftops, sidewalks, hard time seeping into fine- shower to get a good understand-
and yards. A sample map is pro- grained silt or clay soils. ing of runoff flow during small
vided in figure 2.2. (Instructions During your walk, note how and large storms.
for making a homesite sketch can far it is to the nearest storm sewer,
be found in Fact Sheet 1.) Does ditch, wetland, stream or body of
2 EQM102
Are any car or truck wastes being Read all pesticide labels care-
carried away by storm water? fully for application instructions
Oil stains on your driveway and restrictions.
and outdoor spills of antifreeze, See Fact Sheet 5, “Yard and
brake fluid, and other automo- Garden Care,” for more informa-
tive fluids are easily carried away tion on the proper use and han-
by a rainstorm. An oily sheen on dling of yard and garden prod-
runoff from your driveway is a ucts.
sure sign that you need to be
more careful.
Use pans, carpet scraps or Do you use road salt or
matting to catch drips. Routine other de-icing products?
maintenance can prevent your Road salt and de-icers even-
car from leaking and help identi- tually wash off paved surfaces
fy potential leaks. If you change and end up in the soil or water.
your own oil, be careful to avoid From your driveway or side-
spills and collect waste oil for walk, salt can readily flow to
recycling. storm drains and into streams
Oily car parts and fluid con- and lakes.
tainers should be stored where Figure 2.2. Map showing direction Salt in high concentrations is
rain and runoff cannot reach of surface runoff and stream flow. harmful to wildlife and plants.
them. Never dump used oil, Use less to keep these chemicals
antifreeze, or gasoline down a Keeping such products in out of natural systems. If you
storm drain, in a ditch, or on the waterproof containers and storing use too much, clean up the
ground. These wastes will end up them up high and out of the excess. Consider sand or regular
in a nearby lake or stream, or they potential path of runoff or floods is kitty litter as less toxic alterna-
may pollute your drinking water. important. You can avoid storage tives. Chipping ice off pave-
Washing your car in the dri- problems by buying only what ments is an even better choice,
veway creates runoff without the you need for a particular task and although care must be taken not
help of a rainstorm — your hose then using up the product. to damage the pavement surface.
provides the water. The dirty, Prevent freezing of liquid prod-
soapy runoff drains directly into ucts. Most pesticides, and some
storm sewers, picking up oil and fertilizers, are liquid and may be How is animal manure kept from
other pollutants as it goes. Try subject to freezing. This may burst becoming a pollution problem?
washing your car on the lawn or, containers or render the product Droppings from dogs and cats
better yet, take it to a commercial unusable. and from other commonly kept
car wash or spray booth that animals like exotic birds, rabbits,
sends its dirty water to a waste- goats and chickens can be trou-
water treatment plant. Do you use and handle blesome in two ways. First,
chemicals safely? manures contain nutrients that
Safe storage is only the first can promote the growth of algae
Are household products stored step in preventing contaminated if they enter streams and lakes.
outside the reach of storm water? runoff. When mixing chemicals, Second, animal droppings are a
Most households store lawn try to do it within a washtub so source of disease.
and garden products like weed spills will be contained. If you The risk of storm water conta-
killers, insect killers and fertiliz- spill chemicals, act quickly to mination increases if pet manures
ers. If storm water or floodwater contain and clean up the spill. are allowed to accumulate in ani-
reaches these products, it can This is particularly important on mal pen areas or if they are left
transport them into surface water paved surfaces. on sidewalks, streets or drive-
and possibly your well. Using more pesticides or fertil- ways where runoff can carry
Pool chemicals, salt for water izers than you need invites prob- them to storm sewers.
softeners, and a wide variety of lems. Timing of applications is also Droppings that are not mixed
other chemical products can also important. Do not apply pesticides with litter or other materials
cause trouble if they are washed and chemicals if rain is expected should be flushed down the toi-
away. within twenty-four hours. let. Or, if local laws allow it,
EQM102 3
Figure 2.4. Roof drainage should be Are there areas of bare
directed to the lawn or a flower bed soil around your home?
and away from the foundation and Areas of bare soil often exist in
paved surfaces. vegetable and flower gardens, on
newly seeded lawns, and around
construction projects. Even on
gentle slopes, water from rain and
snow can remove large amounts
of soil and carry it to wetlands,
rivers and lakes.
Planting grass or other ground
covers is the best way to stop ero-
sion. Putting a straw or chip
mulch over gardens or newly
seeded areas will slow erosion.
Straw bales, diversion ditches and
commercially available silt fences
around construction sites can help
slow runoff and trap sediment on-
site. If you are working with a
droppings may either be buried Avoiding the problem is easy contractor, insist that precautions
or wrapped and put in the — sweep clippings back onto the are taken to control runoff and
garbage for disposal. grass, and compost leaves and erosion during construction.
garden wastes on your property
to recycle nutrients.
Are yard and garden wastes Can you eliminate paved surfaces
kept out of storm water? or install alternatives?
If left on sidewalks, drive- Assessment 1: Concrete and asphalt roads,
ways, or roads, grass clippings Reducing pollutants in runoff driveways and walkways prevent
and other yard wastes will wash Use Assessment 1 in the rainwater from soaking into the
away with the next storm (see fig- accompanying work sheet to rate ground. When you have the
ure 2.1, page 2). your storm water pollution risks. choice, consider alternative mate-
Although leaves and other For each question, indicate your rials such as gravel or wood chips
plant debris accumulate naturally risk level in the right-hand col- for walkways.
in streams and lakes, homeowners umn. Some choices may not corre- Avoid paving areas such as
can contribute excess amounts of spond exactly to your situation. patios. Where you need a more
plant matter, especially in areas Choose the response that best fits. solid surface, consider using a
with many homes. This can lead Refer to the sections above if you “porous pavement” made from
to water that is unattractive or need more information. interlocking cement blocks or rub-
green with algae and unsuitable ber mats that allow spaces for
for recreation. rainwater to seep into the ground.
Burning yard waste is not an If you must pour concrete, keep
environmentally friendly alterna- Storm Water: Part 2 the paved area as short and nar-
tive, and it’s illegal in some areas. Landscaping and site management row as possible.
Hydrocarbons and nutrients to control storm water runoff
released by burning leaves con- Some storm water risks can be
tribute to water pollution as well controlled by making changes to Is your basement protected from
as air pollution. buildings, paved surfaces, the storm water seepage or flooding?
Rain washes smoke particles landscape and soil surfaces. This Storm water in your basement
out of the air, and runoff picks up section reviews some easily can be a hazard in two ways: first,
dust and ashes left on pavement addressed problems as well as if water carries contaminants or
or in ditches. major landscape alterations you disease organisms into your
might want to consider. home, and second, if water picks
up chemicals stored in your base-
ment and carries them into the
4 EQM102
Figure 2.5. To help prevent erosion, leave an unmowed buffer strip
of thick vegetation along stream banks and lakeshores.
sewer or ground. Basement win- Can you change your landscape’s Assessment 2: Landscaping and
dows or doors are common storm layout to reduce runoff? site management to
water entry points and should be An essential part of storm control storm water runoff
sealed against leaks. water management is keeping For each question in assess-
It is best if window and door water from leaving your property, ment 2 on the work sheet, indicate
sills are at least a foot above or at least slowing its flow as much your risk level in the right-hand
ground level. If windows are at or as possible. Many home lawns are column. Select the answer that
below ground level, they can be sloped to encourage water to run best matches your situation. Refer
protected with clear plastic covers off onto neighboring property or to part 2 above if you need more
available in building supply streets. Instead, you could provide information to complete the table.
stores. Window wells that extend low areas landscaped with shrubs
above ground level can help and flowers to encourage water to
divert storm water. Your yard soak into the ground. If your yard
should be sloped away from the is hilly, you can terrace slopes to For more information
foundation to prevent water from slow the flow of runoff and make Contact your local University
pooling near the house and leak- mowing and gardening easier. Outreach and Extension center,
ing into the basement. If you have a large lot, consid- the Missouri Department of
er “naturalizing” areas with Natural Resources Technical
prairie, woodland or wetland Assistance Program, or Natural
Does roof water flow plants. If your property adjoins a Resource Conservation Service
onto pavement or grass? lake or stream, one of the best Urban Conservationist for infor-
Your house roof, like pave- ways to slow and filter runoff is mation on landscaping, nonpoint
ment, sheds water. If downspouts to leave a buffer strip of thick veg- source pollution, and storm water
from roof gutters empty onto etation along the waterfront (see management techniques.
grassy areas, the water will have a figure 2.5, above).
chance to soak into the ground. Good sources for ideas are
Aim downspouts away from your local University Outreach
foundations and paved surfaces and Extension center, Natural Resources and
(see figure 2.4 on page 4). For roofs Resources Conservation Service, publications
without gutters, plant grass, or Soil and Water Conservation Bay Book: A Guide to Reducing
spread mulch, or use gravel under District offices. Water Pollution at Home (1993).
the drip line to prevent soil ero- Available from the Chesapeake
sion and increase the ground’s Regional Information Service
capacity to absorb water. (CRIS), a project of the Alliance
Consider using cisterns or rain for the Chesapeake Bay, 6600 York
barrels to catch rainwater for Road, Baltimore, MD 21212; (800)
watering lawns and gardens in 662-2747.
dry weather.
EQM102 5
How to order the Home•A•Syst Environmental Risk Assessment Guides:
Publications are available by mail from
(EQM101 through EQM105 include a fact sheet and work sheet.)
Extension Publications, University of
An Introduction to Assessing the Environmental Safety of Missouri, 2800 Maguire Blvd., Columbia,
Your Home ($.75) .......................................................................................EQM100 MO 65211. Please refer to the appropriate
EQM number for each publication.
Site Assessment: Protecting Water Quality
Around Your Home ($1.25)......................................................................EQM101 Enclose your check made payable to
University of Missouri for the cost of
How to Manage and Control Storm Water Runoff ($1.25) ......................EQM102 publications plus handling. Handling is $1.50
for orders that total less that $5.00, and $2.50
Drinking Water Well Management ($1.50) .................................................EQM103 for orders that total from $5.00 to $9.99.
Household Wastewater: Septic Systems and Other For larger orders, including quantity dis-
Treatment Methods ($2.00) ......................................................................EQM104 counts, please call the number below. Missouri
residents must add 7.225% sales tax.
Yard and Garden Care: How it Affects Your
Health and Environment ($1.00) ............................................................EQM105 To order by phone, call (573) 882-7216 or toll-
free 1-800-292-0969.
Home•A•Syst Risk Assessment Guide ($4.00).........................................EQM106
(Includes the introduction and all five fact sheets and work sheets) The complete Home•A•Syst series is available
on the web at:
http://muextension.missouri.edu/xplor/
From University of Missouri s Storm Sewers: The Rivers Pollution prevention at home
Extension Publications, 2800 Beneath Our Feet (GWQ004) helps ensure your safety
McGuire Blvd, Columbia, MO s Cleaning Up Storm Water For more information about
65211; phone: 573/882-7216; see Runoff (GWQ016) topics covered in the Missouri
WM 6011: Storm Drains and s Beneficial Landscape Practices Home•A•Syst series, or for infor-
Water Quality; http://muexten- (GWQ008) mation about laws and regula-
sion.missouri.edu/xplor/waste- s Car Care for Cleaner Water tions specific to your area, contact
man/wm6011.htm (GWQ019) your nearest University Outreach
s Lawn and Garden Fertilizers and Extension center.
The following publications (GWQ002)
relating to storm water runoff are s Shoreline Plants and Contact the Missouri
available from the University of Landscaping (GWQ014) Farm•A•Syst/Home•A•Syst
Wisconsin Extension Publications, s Lawn and Garden Pesticides Program at: 205 Agricultural
Room 170, 630 West Mifflin Street, (GWQ011) Engineering Building, University
Madison, WI 53703-2636; (608) s Lawn Watering (GWQ012) of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia,
262-3346. s Pet Waste and Water Quality MO 65211; phone 573-882-0085.
Up to five copies are free; call (GWQ006)
for price information if you want s Practical Tips for Home and
more than five copies. Yard (GWQ007)
This guide was prepared by Steve Mellis and Don Schuster, based on the Home•A•Syst chapter written by Carl DuPoldt,
Environmental Engineer, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Somerset, New Jersey and Carolyn Johnson, Water
Quality Education Specialist, University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension, Milwaukee.
The Missouri Home•A•Syst series was produced with funding from the United States Department of Agriculture and was
adapted for use in Missouri from the National Farm•A•Syst/Home•A•Syst Program in Cooperation with the Northeast
Regional Agricultural Engineering Services (NRAES).
s Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department
OUTREACH & EXTENSION of Agriculture. Ronald J. Turner, Director, Cooperative Extension, University of Missouri and Lincoln University, Columbia, MO 65211.
s University Outreach and Extension does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability or status
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
COLUMBIA as a Vietnam era veteran in employment or programs. s If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act and
need this publication in an alternative format, write ADA Officer, Extension and Agricultural Information, 1-98 Agriculture Building, Columbia,
MO 65211, or call (573) 882-7216. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate your special needs.
$1.25 Fact Sheet 2 EQM102 New 4/01/3M
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