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Utilities

Stormwater Management Program

Help protect our creeks and river

According to the EPA, stormwater pollution is the number one source of water pollution in the country.

Our storm drainage system is designed to prevent property flooding by transporting stormwater into local creeks, wetlands and the Cache la Poudre River. When rain or snow melt flows over impervious surfaces like streets, it picks up pollutants and carries them to the storm drainage system where they end up in our local waterways, untreated.

How can you help?

Motor oil, antifreeze, dirt, yard waste, leaves and paint are common pollutants that can damage our environment. Utilities needs your help to ensure that these items are not left in the street or put down the storm drain.

Once in the drainage system, these materials will travel directly into creeks, polluting water and natural habitats.

The City of Fort Collins helps protect our waterways through implementation of its MS4 permit.

To report illegal dumping or spills that are potentially life threatening or hazardous to the environment, call 911.

To report all other spills or illegal dumping of wastes into the storm sewer system, call 970-221-6700 or online at Access Fort Collins.

MS4 Permit

In 2003, the City received its first Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit and began implementation of the required Stormwater Management Program (PDF 183KB). This federally mandated program is administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division. Fort Collins is currently in its second permit term, 2008-2013.

The goal of the program is to reduce the amount of pollutants entering streams, creeks, lakes and rivers as a result of rain water and snowmelt from residential, commercial and industrial areas. The following six minimum control measures must be met:

  1. Public Education and Outreach:
    Educate residents and members of the business community to help reduce water quality impacts associated with pollutants in stormwater runoff.
  2. Public Participation/Involvement:
    Provide a mechanism and process to allow the public to review and provide input on the Stormwater Management Program.
  3. Illicit Detection and Elimination:
    Develop, implement and enforce a program to detect and eliminate spills, illegal dumping and other non-stormwater discharges into the City's storm sewer system.
  4. Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control:
    Develop, implement and enforce a program to reduce discharge of pollutants in stormwater runoff from construction activities.
  5. Post-construction Stormwater Management:
    Prevent or minimize impacts to stormwater from new development or redevelopment by ensuring that stormwater conveyance structures operate as designed and are maintained.
  6. Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations:
    Develop and implement an operation and maintenance program to prevent or reduce pollutants in runoff from municipal operations.

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For more information, contact Utilities.

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