Why Should I Care About Stormwater?

"Stormwater is the leading contributor to water quality pollution of urban waterways in Washington." – Washington State Department of Ecology

Many people think that stormwater is collected in the same system that treats our sewage and is treated before its release into the environment. This is a common misconception.

Stormwater in municipal areas collects from hard surfaces and is caught and conveyed in the City's vast stormwater system, which is separate from our sanitary sewer system. This system conveys runoff through catch basins, ditches, and stormwater lines into drywells and to the lake itself.

 Toxic pollutants that stormwater may pick up along the way include:

• Bacteria and parasites from pet waste, which can cause health problems and impact recreational activities.
• Runoff from lawns or car washing, which may wash high concentrations of nutrients into the lake, leading to ugly, smelly and potentially toxic algae blooms.
• Trash, silt, soil, heavy metals, and chemicals can impair the habitat for important wildlife species that depend on the lake and wetlands for survival.

Small things we do can have great impacts on our ability to use the lake for swimming and playing.

Stewardship & The City

The City depends on its tourism value, which is directly related to the purity and attractiveness of Moses Lake. It is all of our responsibilities to learn, implement, and practice good environmental stewardship so that it remains our most valuable resource.

Good management practices cost little in the way of time or money, but return a tremendous value to us. The health of the watershed depends on all of us.