Stormwater Utility

Sky Schelle, Stormwater Coordinator

Welcome

Springfield's stormwater utility will fund: required improvements to the city's waste water infrastructure; public education on the environmental impact of stormwater; and minimize future impact on our local watersheds by working with the development community to reduce polluted runoff.

Everyone has a part to play in keeping our water clean!

• If you are a builder or developer, this site will give you information about stormwater management practices you can put in place to meet local, state, and federal requirements.
• If you are a homeowner, you will learn ways you can help keep our waterways clean and healthy.
• If you are interested in getting involved, you will find out about citizen groups and volunteer opportunities aimed at improving water quality.

If you have questions about the stormwater user fee, please see this fact sheet. Springfield has also produced this video to introduce you to the stormwater utility.

Our Goal: Clean Water

Every time it rains, pollutants such as sediment, oil, antifreeze, fertilizer, pesticide, and animal waste are carried into storm drains and ditches. Most of this water drains directly to a local stream untreated. During heavy rains, the amount of stormwater is so great that the sewer system overflows and raw sewage mixed with stormwater is directly dumped into Buck Creek and Mad River.

The Clean Water Act of 1972 set a goal that all U.S. Waterways be "fishable and swimmable". The initial phases of the Act targeted factories and other facilities that directly outlet to a waterway. Although water quality has improved, we still haven't reached the goal of "fishable and swimmable". Segments of Buck Creek and Mad River are listed as impaired by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

More needs to be done to make our waterways clean and safe. That's why Springfield has to reduce pollution in stormwater and the sewer overflows that come as a result of the stormwater running off our rooftops, roads, parking lots, and other impervious areas.

Contact

For more information or to schedule a stormwater/watershed speaker:

   Sky Schelle, Stormwater Coordinator

   sschelle@ci.springfield.oh.us     (937) 324-7739