Stormwater
The City's stormwater system collects surface and subsurface drainage and carries it to the Missouri River and its tributaries that flow through the community. The man-made portion of this system is made up of over 140 miles of pipe, open ditch, and culverts, and over four miles of open channels. Detention ponds are located at strategic locations throughout the system and help prevent flooding by holding back high flows during large runoff events. Five pumping stations carry runoff from streets and adjoining properties to Hay Creek, Apple Creek, and the Missouri River.
As part of the requirements of the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ), the City of Bismarck has to follow pollution prevention and good housekeeping practices in operations. We have implemented an operation and maintenance program that prevents or reduces pollutant runoff from municipal operations.
We are working on this through:
- Providing operation and maintenance of storm sewers including street sweeping and inspection of infrastructure. Typical maintenance activities include routine storm sewer inspections, removal of sediment and debris, vegetation control, and erosion controls The City of Bismarck only maintains public infrastructure. Private facilities, including storm sewers, detention ponds, and streams located on private property are not maintained by the City.
- Having a pesticide and fertilizer management program. This program reduces the amount of pollutants discharged from storage, application and disposal of pesticides, and fertilizers. In addition, these chemicals are only applied by personnel that are properly trained in management techniques.
- Training municipal employees to reduce pollutants in stormwater. Municipal employees participate in training that addresses MS4 maintenance, reduction, and prevention of stormwater pollution from city activities. Some of these areas include: fleet and building maintenance; proper use, storage, and disposal of chemicals; new construction and land disturbance; and stormwater system maintenance.
- Assessing BMPs (Best Management Practices) at city facilities to reduce stormwater from the facilities. Existing facilities are evaluated to determine if there are any BMPs that can be implemented to reduce the quantity of stormwater and the amount of potential pollutants leaving the site. During new facility construction, BMPs are always considered for stormwater management.
Illicit discharge is any discharge into the storm sewer that is not comprised entirely of stormwater. Illicit discharges may be a result of industrial activity, deposits of oil on parking lots, excess lawn fertilizer and yard clippings, and a variety of other sources which pollute water with turbidity, excess nutrients, and bacteria. Illicit discharges can also be from failing septic systems or improperly connected sewer lines. Dumping liquids or refuse into storm drain inlets is also considered an illicit discharge and eliminating these discharges is an important step in protecting the City of Bismarck’s waterways.
The City of Bismarck Department of Public Works is developing an illicit discharge detection and elimination program (IDDE) which is mandated by the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit. Under the MS4 permit, the City of Bismarck is required to adopt an illicit discharge prohibition ordinance, sample discharge from storm sewers, and map the storm sewer system.
Illicit Discharge:
- Septic tank effluent
- Improper oil disposal
- Grass clippings/Leaves left in the street
- Paint and concrete wash water
- Sanitary wastewater
Allowed Discharge:
- Lawn watering/irrigation
- Street washing/sweeping
- Water line flushing
- Residential car washing
- Any activity with an NPDES permit
The best ways to keep illicit discharge from occurring is to follow good housekeeping practices. This includes recycling or properly disposing of waste, keeping waste receptacle lids secured on windy days, and cleaning up spills or litter immediately. It is also important to keep grass clipping and leaves off of the street and keep your neighborhood storm drains clean of debris and litter.
Controlling erosion on construction sites is important because rain or wind events can cause erosion of sediment exposed by grading causing local flooding in public infrastructure.
Sediment is considered a pollutant because the soil increases the amount of turbidity in the nearby waters making it appear cloudy or muddy.
For this reason, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ), and the City of Bismarck require all construction activity over one acre to develop a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) in order to minimize the amount of erosion coming off of each site.
The City of Bismarck is mandated by the MS4 to inspect construction sites and see that they comply with regulations. Maintaining the correct on-site erosion controls is key in establishing effective erosion control.
Erosion Control Resources
On Aug. 22, 2017, the City Commission approved & adopted the current Stormwater Design Standards Manual, with an effective implementation date of Jan. 1, 2018. Any project submitted after Jan. 1, 2018 is subject to the requirements of the new Stormwater Design Standards Manual.
2018 Bismarck Stormwater Design Standards Manual
Design Standards Manual Forms
Public Education and Involvement
The City of Bismarck has developed a public education and outreach program to let our citizens know about the impacts of stormwater runoff and discharges and the measures we all can take to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff.
The storm water system handles water that flows down driveways and streets into a gutter where it is not treated and goes into a storm drain that flows directly to the Missouri River. In contrast, the sanitary sewer system, also known as our wastewater system, handles water that goes down a sink or toilet and flows to a wastewater treatment plant where it is treated and filtered.
On its way to our storm water system, such as during rain events or snow melt, runoff can pick up pollutants such as excess fertilizer, lawn clippings, trash, oil deposits, soils and sediments, pet waste, and other contaminants get washed into the storm sewer system. Those materials eventually make their way from the storm sewer system, untreated, into our local streams, ponds, and rivers. We should all do our part to protect our waterways and promote stewardship towards our land, water, and downstream neighbors.
Water Management: Please divert gutters away from impervious surfaces such as driveways and sidewalks into vegetated areas to allow the water a chance to infiltrate into the soil.
- Make sure you don't over-water your greenspace and make sure your outdoor water covers your yard and landscaping, not the sidewalk or driveway.
Help Control Stormwater Pollution: Many of our daily activities can impact the quality of our water bodies, however there are many simple ways we an prevent stormwater pollution.
Prevent Soil Erosion: Bare spots in yards have loose soil that can be washed away during rains or blown away in high winds, adding sediment to our local water bodies. We should control erosion by planting ground cover and stabilizing erosion-prone areas. Dirt and sediment are also a cause of localized flooding. Having grass or native plants is the simplest way to keep dirt out of the storm water system. Also, cleaning out pipes is a time consuming and expensive process. Please help out by getting your grass and/or other vegetation planted in bare soil areas as soon as possible.
Grass clippings and leaves: Yard waste can also cause localized flooding when covering and/or plugging inlet grates. Grass clippings and leaves also decay in the pipes, causing unpleasant odors. Dumping grass clippings and leaves in drainage areas will also cause flooding of outfalls. Please blow cut grass back into your yard or bag it. Public help with keeping inlets clean is very much appreciated and is a benefit to our community.
Yard fertilizer and weed preventer: Don’t overuse yard fertilizer or weed preventer, and make sure to follow the directions on the product labels. It’s important to sweep any excess product back into your yard, not only to protect our stormwater system, but also because yard fertilizer and weed preventer can stain your concrete. These chemicals being washed down the storm drains also promote algae growth in our local waterbodies which causes problems for those ecosystems.
Make sure fertilizers are phosphorous free: Our soils have plenty of naturally occurring phosphorous, so phosphorous is usually only needed when trying to establish a new yard. Excess amounts of phosphorous contribute to algal blooms and oxygen deficiency in our water bodies.
Pet waste and litter: Please dispose of pet waste and litter in your garbage. Pet waste does not break down outdoors, and once it’s in the streets it will go through the storm sewer system then into our local rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. Allowing pet waste and litter to enter the storm system is no different than throwing dirt and garbage in the inlets and pipes.
General garbage: Please pick up any garbage in your own yard and any that you see around our community. Also, limit the time your garbage cans are out on windy days to reduce the chance of the cans blowing over and dumping garbage onto streets and adjacent properties. We can all help keep our community and our stormwater systems clean.
Concrete: Concrete wash water from wet concrete, tools and equipment poses a contamination threat to stormwater quality. De-icing materials and concrete wash water contain metals and chemicals that are toxic to aquatic life, even in low concentrations.
Check your sump pumps often to make sure they are working properly. Having a backup pump is a good idea, or a 12-volt battery backup pump for power outages.
When possible, warm weather sump discharge should go to a non-erodible surface such as the driveway, street, or directly to a storm drain; this helps us save treatment & pumping costs at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
It isn’t always a good idea to run your sump discharge onto a lawn or any pervious surface, the water could end up being recycled into your neighbors or your own sump system.
Wintertime sump discharge should go into the sanitary system via a floor drain or tub.
Don’t dump any types of chemicals in our community’s storm drains!
- Household Hazardous Waste: Dispose at the City of Bismarck Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Recycling Center located at the Landfill.
- Oil and Chemicals: Oils and chemicals should not ever be dumped into storm drains, gutters, or inlets. Instead, these materials should be recycled or taken somewhere that can dispose of them properly, such as the Household Hazardous Waste facility at the landfill. Also, make sure to have any vehicle fluid leaks repaired quickly.
- Paint: Water-based paint tools can be cleaned in the sink, while oil-based paint tools need to be recycled or properly disposed of. Neither type should be cleaned in our gutters or inlets.
- Detergents and Cleaning Solutions: Look for eco-friendly detergents and cleaners that are low in, or have no phosphorous. Low phosphorous products will help reduce the amount of nutrients discharged into our streams and rivers. Wash your vehicles on the lawn or use a commercial carwash to prevent the cleaning products you use from entering the stormwater systems.
Other non-hazardous items can be disposed of through regular garbage collection.
Bismarck's Storm Water Program is asking residents to Adopt-An-Inlet. This program encourages residents to clean off stormwater inlets located in their street or rear-yard. By keeping storm drains clear and free of leaves and debris, storm drains can drain properly and aide in rain water draining from city streets resulting in less standing water on your street. Many of our street and backyard flooding calls are directly related to stormwater inlets becoming covered with leaves, grass, and debris. Once the debris is cleared the inlets can drain properly. If you have an inlet anywhere near your home please be a good neighbor and keep it clear.
Here are a few ways to improve stormwater conditions through actions at home:
- Native Planting: Use deep-rooted native vegetation that will add water capacity to the soil and beauty to your yard. Native plants are adapted to our weather and require little watering once established.
- Water Efficient Landscaping: Review the EPA Water-Efficient Landscaping.pdf for tips to take your landscaping to the next level of water efficiency and stormwater protection.
- Soil Amendments: Improve soil quality by aerating and adding compost to your greenspace. By doing so you will help your landscaping have deeper root growth for better soils. Also, better soil conditions allow for more storm and runoff water infiltration into the ground and keep it out of our stormwater systems.
Community involvement is a key component to the stormwater program’s success. The Report a Concern form allows you to report a concern, express an idea, ask for help, or recommend a change pertaining to stormwater related matters.
Location: 601 South 26th Street, Bismarck, ND
Phone: 701-355-1700, option 4
Mailing Address: PO Box 5503, Bismarck, ND 58506-5503