Pollution from Runoff

What is non-point source pollution?


When you turn on a faucet or flush your toilet water flows down pipes, leaving your home and entering a municipal sewer system. After it is treated in a wastewater treatment plant it is discharged into the river. Potentially contaminated water that enters the river from an identifiable location is what we call a point source, or end-of-pipe pollution, and it is carefully regulated by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But water can also flow over your lawn and driveway during a rainstorm, and it runs off agricultural fields and roads—this water eventually makes its way to the river without being treated. Water that picks up pollution by flowing over a lawn or field that has been sprayed with fertilizer or pesticides is called non-point source pollution. Another common term is “stormwater runoff” which emphasizes the role of rainfall in washing chemicals off the land and into the river.

Non-point source pollution is the biggest cause of water pollution in the U.S. and it is one of the hardest to control. Imagine how much motor oil is washed in the river during a storm—you have hundreds of neighbors with cars that leak small amounts of oil onto their driveways and the streets in your neighborhood, each contributing a small amount of pollution to the watershed you live in. When it rains, all that oil is picked up by the water flowing down the street and into the storm drains—and from there to the river. How do you control thousands of little sources of pollution? That’s why we all have to work together to control sormwater runoff, it is something we all contribute to and something we can all help to control. The old saying “it takes a village” is very true when it comes to helping our river by reducing nonpoint source pollution.


There are many things you can do to reduce runoff, whether you live in a city or small town, in a home or on a farm. Click on the link for your community to learn more about what your friends and neighbors are doing and go to the more links page for suggestions on how you can help.




Topeka

One inch of rain over the city of Topeka translates to 940 million gallons of stormwater. That's a big management problem. The City of Topeka is tackling this problem by developing a partnership with state agencies, local governments, not for profit organizations, and other interested parties, and have called their coalition Green Topeka.

Projects include innovative solutions to localized flooding, use of ponds and wetlands, riparian stabilization, stream buffers, and urban retrofit.

Below is a photograph of the Kansas River in Topeka, taken by the Friends of the Kaw.




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Perry

The town of Perry is on the Delaware River, a major tribtary of the Kaw. Rural areas like Perry have to deal with stormwater runoff from yards, roads, and parking lots in town, but also from agricultural fields and farming operations in the watershed. The Clean Water Farms program has been helping Kansas farmers improve their management of stormwater runoff since 1995. Many successful projects have been funded through the Kansas Rural Center, which has provided small grants for demonstration projects on more than 50 farms in our region. Information on farming practices that reduce nonpoint source pollution is also available through the Kansas State Ag Extension program.
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Lecompton


Rural towns have to deal with stormwater runoff from yards, roads, and parking lots, but also from agricultural fields. The Clean Water Farms program has been helping Kansas farmers improve their management of stormwater runoff since 1995. Many successful projects have been funded through the Kansas Rural Center

Information on farming practices that reduce nonpoint source pollution is also available through the Kansas State Ag Extension program.


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Tonganoxie

Rural towns have to deal with stormwater runoff from yards, roads, and parking lots, but also from agricultural fields. The Clean Water Farms program has been helping Kansas farmers improve their management of stormwater runoff since 1995. Many successful projects have been funded through the Kansas Rural Center

Information on farming practices that reduce nonpoint source pollution is also available through the Kansas State Ag Extension program.


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Lawrence

The City of Lawrence is engaged in many activities to reduce pollution from stormwater runoff, including promoting low impact development practices, stenciling storm drains, and creating rain gardens in areas prone to flooding. Local residents have also developed a number of projects, such as the pesticides free parks initiative, which greatly help the Kansas River. Follow the links below to learn more about what is happening in Lawrence and to find ideas about what you may wish to do in your own community.

Take a tour of Lawrence stormwater projects
City of Lawrence How to Develop a Watershed Plan
North Lawrence Watershed Drainage Plan
Lawrence Waste Reduction and Recycling Water Quality
Guide to Clean Water
City of Lawrence WaterWise Report
Pesticide Free Parks City of Lawrence
City of Lawrence profiled by beyondpesticides.org
City of Lawrence Water Conservation Gardening
City of Lawrence Lawn Care Guide
City of Lawrence Xeriscaping Guide
City of Lawrence Rain Gardens
City of Lawrence Rain Barrels Guide
How to Assemble a Rain Barrel
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Eudora

Eudora is home to a private business that provides plants for rain gardens in the Kansas City region, the Kaw River Restoration Nurseries. By using native plants that are locally adapted to the weather and soil you can reduce the amount of water that you use, and you can also reduce the amount of pesticides and herbicides that you need to create a beautiful garden. Lawns can require a great deal of water and chemicals to maintain, and they are not as efficient as rain gardens  at absorbing runoff. Not only are rain gardens beautiful, they can greatly reduce the amount of stormwater that reaches the street, goes down the storm drain, and washes into the river.


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De Soto

De Soto, like other areas in Johnson County, is undergoing rapid development. Changes to the landscape brought on by development increase the rate at which stormwater flows into rivers and creeks, contributing to increased pollutant loads, changes in the plant and animal communities, and an increase in stream erosion. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that urban runoff is linked to the impairment of many streams in Johnson County, and as a result improving the management of stormwater runoff is mandated by the EPA and the state of Kansas to comply with the city’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.  (See pollution source points for definition of NPDES)

The United States Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Johnson County Stormwater Management Program, began a multi year study during the fall of 2002 to evaluate water quality in streams throughout the county in order to describe water-quality conditions in streams, identify contaminant source areas, and estimate concentrations, densities, and loads.
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Bonner Springs

Bonner Springs is part of the Johnson County Stormwater Management Advisory Council, which coordinates between municipalities sharing the Lower Kansas River watershed. Changes to the landscape brought on by development increase the rate at which stormwater flows into rivers and creeks, contributing to increased pollutant loads, changes in the plant and animal communities, and an increase in stream erosion. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that urban runoff is linked to the impairment of many streams in Johnson County, and as a result improving the management of stormwater runoff is mandated by the EPA and the state of Kansas to comply with the city’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

The United States Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Johnson County Stormwater Management Program, began a multi year study during the fall of 2002 to evaluate water quality in streams throughout the county in order to describe water-quality conditions in streams, identify contaminant source areas, and estimate concentrations, densities, and loads.
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Olathe

The City of Olathe stormwater stenciling program helps to educate people about nonpoint source pollution. Like many metropolitan areas, Olathe has two types of sewer systems, one that carries human and industrial wastewater to a treatment plant and another that carries untreated stormwater runoff to lakes and streams. Storm drain marking is a way to let people know that whatever they pour into the drain will go directly into the lakes and streams around their homes, reducing recreational opportunities in our community and harming the environment.

If you would like to be a volunteer, contact the City of Olathe. If you have household hazardous waste to get rid of, don't dump it down the drain, contact that Johnson County Hazardous Materials Department to dispose of it properly.

Olathe is in a rapidly growing region. Development increases the rate at which stormwater flows into rivers and creeks, contributing to increased pollutant loads, changes in the plant and animal communities, and an increase in stream erosion. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that urban runoff is linked to the impairment of many streams in Johnson County, and as a result improving the management of stormwater runoff is mandated by the EPA and the state of Kansas to comply with the city’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

The United States Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Johnson County Stormwater Management Program, began a multi year study during the fall of 2002 to evaluate water quality in streams throughout the county in order to describe water-quality conditions in streams, identify contaminant source areas, and estimate concentrations, densities, and loads.







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Shawnee

Shawnee is part of rapidly growing Johnson County. The Shawnee City Council recently adopted two new ordinances to reduce erosion, control sediment, and treat stromwater runoff from construction sites. The goal of these new regulations is to lower the impact of development on the Kansas River and its tributary streams. Cities like Shawnee are now required by the State of Kansas Water Pollution Control Permit (EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II requirements) to develop plans to improve their management of stormwater runoff.



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Lenexa

Lenexa has taken a different approach to managing stormwater; instead of viewing it as a management problem, they are looking at it as an asset, "turning rain into recreation". How much fun is it to provide new lakes, athletic fields, stream side trails, and green belts to enhance the beauty and recreational value of new developments...while saving money.

Cities like Lenexa are required by the federal Clean Water Act to develop stormwater runoff plans that not only reduce flooding but improve water quality. Using 'business as usual' approaches can be very expensive, and are not proven to be effective at meeting the new water quality standards for stormwater runoff. The city of Lenexa estimates that their new plan will save about 26 million dollars over a 15 year period, will improve water quality, reduce runoff, and as an added bonus provide enhanced recreational opportunities.

Lenexa’s new approach to stormwater management
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Kansas City


Kansas City has particular challenges when it comes to managing stormwater and floodwaters since it is at the confluence of the Kansas River and the Missouri River. It is also one of the most highly industrialized regions of the state, with many industries occupying lowlands along the river. The KDHE industrial programs section stormwater program provides guidance on managing industrial runoff.

The EPA Region 7 headquarters and laboratories in Kansas City, Kansas are examples of green building techniques which produce healthy working environments while reducing nonpoint source pollution.




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Overland Park


Overland Park is located in Johnson County, the most populated and rapidly growing county in the state. Even though it is a highly developed urban center, there are 70 miles of streams in Overland Park, and activities which impact the quality of water entering these streams have an impact on the Kansas River. During the past five years the City of Overland Park has been actively developing management strategies to reduce nonpoint source pollution, including adopting a Stream Corridor Ordinance in 2002, and an ordinance requiring the use of erosion and sediment control measures on construction sites in 2003. Overland Park is currently in the process of developing standards and ordinances requiring new development projects to treat stormwater runoff, and if adopted, these new requirements would be implemented in 2008. The proposed changes could have a significant impact on both private and public development, encouraging the creation of features such as wetlands, native grass prairies, rain gardens, and porous pavement in parking lots within new subdivisions, office parks and commercial centers. This would help address the major problems with pollution from run-off in Johnson County, which come from sediments, nutrients, and bacteria.

Changes to the landscape brought on by development increase the rate at which stormwater flows into rivers and creeks, contributing to increased pollutant loads, changes in the plant and animal communities, and an increase in stream erosion. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that urban runoff is linked to the impairment of many streams in Johnson County, and as a result improving the management of stormwater runoff is mandated by the EPA and the state of Kansas to comply with the city’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.


The United States Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Johnson County Stormwater Management Program, began a multi year study during the fall of 2002 to evaluate water quality in streams throughout the county in order to describe water-quality conditions in streams, identify contaminant source areas, and estimate concentrations, densities, and loads.


There are many things that you can do to help reduce stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution in Overland Park. The City suggests that you:

  • Don't dump oil, antifreeze, lawn chemicals, paint or pet waste in storm drains. Storm drains run directly to the nearest river or creek.
  • Use the Johnson County's Hazardous Household Waste collection program.
  • Don't dump yard waste in storm drains, instead compost leaves and grass clippings and use them in your garden. Dumping yard waste in storm drains leads to a build up of organic material in rivers and creeks, which degrades water quality.
  • Fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides should be applied sparingly to your lawn. Do not use more than recommended and never apply them when rain is expected.
  • Pet waste can contribute to high bacteria counts in stormwater. In urban areas, pet wastes usually don't decompose, they wash off. The best location to dispose of pet wastes is in the toilet or trash can.
  • Oil, grease and antifreeze builds up on streets and is washed into storm drains when it rains. Maintaining your cars and trucks in good condition and reducing vehicle trips by carpooling, riding the bus and walking or biking for short trips can make a tangible difference.
  • Plant trees, native wildflowers and grasses wherever possible. They capture and use rainwater more effectively than grass, and provide habitat for wildlife. Develop a rain garden, use rain barrels, and methods to reduce the runoff from your yard.




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