This Springfield catch basin was cleaned this year, including replacing an insert. The inserts help remove pollution from urban runoff before it flows into the storm drain and out to local waterways.
The City of Springfield’s Stormwater Team hopes Springfield businesses take advantage of a recently launched Lane County program to clean storm drains on their property and keep local waterways healthy.
Lane County’s Stormwater Management Program recently partnered with Stormwater Protection Systems (SPS) to provide discounted storm drain cleaning. This voluntary program allows county businesses to clean their private storm drains for a reduced flat fee of $65 per drain.
Businesses are eligible to sign-up each fall and spring in anticipation of heavy rainfall and more water entering the storm drain systems. To register a company for the fall program, visit www.lanecountyor.gov/SCAP and sign up by Oct. 31.
Stormwater, also called urban runoff, is the main source of pollution in Springfield’s waterways, including the Willamette and McKenzie rivers. Stormwater often drains directly into rivers and streams without treatment, which introduces pollutants from parking lots and roadways, contributing to water quality issues. Springfield businesses cleaning and maintaining their privately owned storm drains ensures clean waterways by removing pollutants like oil, sediment, litter, pesticides, and fertilizers.
“This is a really important program that provides a pathway for business owners to be good stewards of the watershed by making catch basin cleanouts easy and affordable,” said Sarah Whitney, Urban Waters & Wildlife Program Manager. “Parking lots collect fluids and heavy metals from vehicles, transporting them to the catch basins and then to streams where the pollutants impact drinking water and wildlife.”
Businesses are responsible for cleaning and maintaining privately owned storm drains in their parking lots. Removing debris and sediment from storm drains reduces flooding by increasing stormwater system capacity during heavy rainfall. The program aims to make this service more affordable and encourage bi-annual cleanings—improving water quality in our streams and rivers.
The $65 per drain fee covers debris removal from standard parking lot drains, power washing in and around the drain, and disposal of sediment. The program does not cover additional fees for jetting, repair, or oversized storm drains.
About the Urban Waters & Wildlife Program
The Urban Waters & Wildlife Partnership is a new initiative spearheaded by the Long Tom Watershed Council that brings together local watershed councils, city governments, the county government, publicly owned water and electric utilities, and two district agencies to build innovative opportunities for collaboration around stormwater management and improved water quality. The UWWP is building a regional approach to stormwater management through coordinating partners’ efforts in collaborative planning, outreach to local businesses and community organizations, designing and implementing green infrastructure solutions, and monitoring water quality impacts at the site-specific and regional levels. Partners include the Long Tom Watershed Council, McKenzie Watershed Council, Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council, Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council, Upper Willamette Soil & Water Conservation District, EWEB, SUB, City of Eugene, City of Springfield, Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission, Willamalane Park and Recreation District, and Cascade Pacific Resource Conservation & Development.