The City of Spokane’s Wastewater Management Department is asking citizens to take a quick, on-line survey to gauge knowledge of stormwater pollution and improve education efforts around this issue. The survey is available at www.spokanewastewater.org/stormwatersurvey.aspx.  Citizens also will be reminded about the survey in an insert in their City utility bills.

Stormwater is defined as rain or snowmelt that runs over surfaces including driveways, streets, and sidewalks before flowing through an underground stormwater collection system and into the Spokane River.  On its journey, stormwater picks up pollutants, such as pet waste, excess fertilizer, and leaked motor oil.  Aquatic life, plants, and humans are impacted by polluted stormwater.

The City is required to work to reduce stormwater pollution and meet water quality standards as part of its stormwater discharge permit.  The City needs the assistance of residents to meet these goals.

The City has both separate storm sewers that drain directly into the River and combined stormwater and sanitary sewers that send their discharge to the City’s wastewater treatment plant.   More information on stormwater pollution is available at www.spokanewastewater.org.

 Also, check Sightline's special report on cleaning up the northwest's toxic runoff, much of it relevant to Spokane. (See our list of where Spokane River pollution comes from.) Download it HERE.
 

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