Why the need for Stormwater Quality?
Stormwater is nothing more than rainwater. But it’s what the rainwater carries along with it as it runs from our rooftops, across our properties, along the city streets, gutter lines, and pipes until it is deposited into our streams and ditches that flow away from our community.  Unlike sewage, stormwater runs through separate piping, and is not treated. Common pollutants include, but are not limited to Litter, (general garbage, cigarette butts, plastic bags), Chemical pollution (detergents, oil or fertilizers) and "natural" pollution, (decaying vegetation, animal waste).  Eventually, the majority of our stormwater ends up in larger bodies of water, which are sometimes a source of drinking water for many communities.

What Are Federal Standards and Guidelines with regard to Stormwater Quality?
The City of Sikeston is one of the 149 communities within the State of Missouri that is required to submit an application to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for coverage under the Missouri Phase II MS4 general stormwater permit, as moderated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Water Act.

This program requires that the City of Sikeston develop a Stormwater Program, which addresses water quality issues. The Stormwater Program is designed to Educate, and Eliminate the potential for pollutants to enter our streams from all sources, such as streets, building sites, farmland, parking lots, residential properties, etc. Since 1983, the City of Sikeston has maintained stormwater ordinances, guidelines and requirements. But there is a need for ordinance modifications, scheduled inspections, and a permit process, which are embedded in our 5 year plan. This program brings the city into compliance with federal requirements, which furthermore, helps us improve what everyone should want; pollution-free stormwater. 

To comply with the federal requirements, the City of Sikeston must meet the following Six Minimum Control Measures:

1. Public education and outreach

2. Public involvement/participation

3. Illicit discharge detection

4. Construction site stormwater runoff control

5. Post-construction stormwater management in new development and re-development

6. Pollution prevention/good housekeeping for community operations

How Citizens Can Help Control Stormwater Pollution: 

Here’s how you can help prevent Stormwater pollution:

• Don’t discharge grass onto the street when mowing.
• Divert roof drains and other runoff to vegetated areas on your property.
• Retain or create buffers of vegetation between waterways and impervious areas to help filter out pollutants.
• Keep your vehicles tuned up and repair leaks quickly.
• Wash your car on the lawn, not the driveway.
• Stop soil erosion – plant vegetation on all bare areas.
• Never pour used oil, paint thinners, and other pollutants into storm drains or waterways or on the ground. Take these household hazardous wastes to a recycling/collection center.  Clean up spills quickly.
• Use lawn care practices that protect water quality. Minimize the use of fertilizers and pesticides on your lawn; sweep (don’t wash) fertilizer off driveways and walkways and compost yard wastes.
• Clean litter from the street and storm drains in front of your home and along stream banks to keep it out of our waters.
• Walk your dog in vegetated areas or bury or flush pet wastes.
• Design all new construction to prevent runoff and stormwater pollution.
• Report any pollution, illegal dumping or soil erosion that you see to authorities.

• Support agencies and organizations working on clean water programs.

How Your Group or Organization Can Help: 

• Organize a StreamWatch Group that “adopts” a stream, lateral ditch or lake in your community.

• Conduct stream cleanups that remove trash and debris from waterways.

• Stencil storm drains with “Don’t Dump – Drains to Waterway” messages to inform citizens that dumping pollutes local waters.

• Support or help expand community recycling/collection programs for used oil, household hazardous wastes and other potential pollutants.

• Organize school and public education programs on Stormwater problems and solutions.