Storm Water FAQs

1. What is 'Stormwater runoff'?
The term "stormwater"refers to rainwater. Stormwater runoff is water that flows after a rainfall. During rainstorms, water drains off driveways, parking lots, and streets picking up pollutants while flowing to the storm sewer system. Once stormwater enters the storm sewer system of inlets, pipes or channels, it flows downstream to the nearest creek, lake or river. Unlike wastewater, it is untreated and can carry pollutants, sediments, trash, and pet waste directly to these waterways.

2. What is urban runoff?
Urban runoff also flows to the storm sewer system. Urban runoff is water from irrigation, over-watering, car washing and other sources that travel into the street picking up pollutants.

3. What is the difference between the storm sewer system and sanitary sewer system?
The water that goes down the sanitary sewer system (from sinks or toilets) flows to a wastewater treatment plant where it is treated and filtered prior to entering any water bodies. The stormwater and urban runoff water that flows down driveways and streets and into the storm sewer system flows directly into our creeks, lakes, and rivers. Anything that enters a storm sewer system is discharged untreated into the water bodies we use for swimming, fishing and providing drinking water.

4. Where does local stormwater go?

Stormwater runoff from Bee Cave area flows to one of the following creeks/lakes/rivers:

Little Barton Creek and Barton Creek
Hurst Creek
Lake Austin
Lake Travis
Colorado River

5. What are the largest sources of pollutants?
The largest sources of pollutants are litter; pet waste; pesticides; fertilizers; leaves and yard clippings; and automotive leaks and spills.

6. What are the effects of pollution?
Polluted stormwater runoff can have many adverse impacts on plants, fish, animals, and people.

Sediment can destroy aquatic habitat.
Sediment can cloud the water and make it difficult or impossible for aquatic plants to grow.
Excess nutrients can cause algae blooms. When algae die, they sink to the bottom and decompose in a process that removes oxygen from the water. Fish and other aquatic organisms can't exist in water with low dissolved oxygen levels.
Debris-plastic bags, six-pack rings, bottles and cigarette butts-washed into creeks and water bodies can choke, suffocate, or disable aquatic life like ducks, fish, turtles, and birds.
Household hazardous wastes like insecticides, pesticides, paint, solvents, grease, used motor oil and other auto fluids can poison aquatic life. Land animals and people can become sick or die from eating diseased fish or ingesting polluted water.
Bacteria and other pathogens can wash into swimming areas and create health hazards.
Polluted stormwater often affects drinking water sources. This, in turn, can affect human health and increase drinking water treatment costs.

7. Why should you care?
Urban runoff is the largest source of unregulated pollution to the waterway and coastal areas of the United States. Some chemicals and other substances in stormwater can be toxic, even at small levels. They endanger plants and animals that depend on the water to survive. Other items containing no chemicals like leaves and grass clippings decompose in our waterways and cause the same problems for fish and aquatic life. Soil, sand, and minerals used in landscaping can also cloud waterways. Again, that inhibits underwater plant growth and depletes oxygen levels.

8. How can I help to ensure clean waterways?
Stormwater pollution can be controlled if everyone plays a part in preventing these substances from entering the storm drain inlets.

Generally, you can help prevent stormwater pollution by:

Picking up after your pets.
Asking your landscaper to avoid blowing leaves and grass clippings onto sidewalks and streets.
Applying fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides when rain is not expected.
Picking up litter.
Disposing of hazardous chemicals properly and by notifying City of Bee Cave (512-767-6675) of construction sites that aren't properly controlling stormwater runoff.
Learn how you can make a big difference in our local waterways.

The following websites provide a wealth of additional information on this subject:

www.earth911.com
www.takecareoftexas.org
http://www.txstate.edu/stormwater/stormwater-101.html

9. Are there any more ways I can make a difference?
As a resident or business owner in Bee Cave, here are a few ways you can help keep our water resources clean and plentiful.

In your yard:

Avoid applying fertilizer just before a storm. Fertilizer needs a day or two to sit. Otherwise, it will simply wash away into a storm drain where it negatively impacts the water quality and the environment. Follow the package instructions and apply only the amount indicated for your lawn's size.
Never use motor oil, gasoline, or kerosene to kill weeds and insects. These substances eventually wash away into our water resources.
Use pesticides as a last resort and try less toxic alternatives. Some insects are actually a good thing.
Plant native or adaptive plants. Texas Smartscape plants require less water and maintenance to thrive; and because they grow well in Texas, they rarely need help from pesticides.
Use a cycle and soak method when watering your lawn. Our region's predominate clay-like soil does not absorb water quickly. Add an hour between several shortened watering cycles to allow the water you are applying ample time to soak in rather than wastefully running off.
Bag and dispose of your pet's waste in a garbage can. Pet waste that remains on the lawn contains harmful bacteria that can wash into our waterways and ultimately our water recourses. Pet waste is not a good fertilizer for your lawn.
Sweep and collect your yard trimmings into a large paper bag designed for yard waste. Place the bags three feet away from your cart on your regularly scheduled pick up day. Never wash your yard trimmings into the street or in a storm drain. Clean storm drains help prevent localized flooding.
Use a rain barrel to harvest the rain from your rooftop. You can collect and store the rain from a downspout in a collection device to use it on a future, sunnier day.

Maintaining your Car:

Avoid washing your car in the driveway. It allows soapy water oil, dirt and grime to enter our water resources.
Instead, consider taking your car to a car washing facility where the water is recycled and eventually sent to the sanitary sewer system for treatment.
Repair your vehicle leaks as soon as possible to contain the negative impact that car fluids can have on the environment.
Dispose or recycle your used oil, oil filters, and antifreeze at an auto service center where these items are collected.
Recycle car batteries at designated facilities, which include most automotive businesses and places where car batteries are sold. Be aware, there may be a fee for the service.
Store any automotive parts in an area protected from the rain. This keeps remnants of oil and grease away from the ground and out of our storm drains.

10. Can I dispose of used motor oil on the ground or in the garbage?
NEVER dispose used motor oil on the ground; in a ditch, creek, river, or lake; in a storm drain; or in the garbage. It's against the law. Texas law prohibits dumping used oil on land or into sewers or waterways. Texas has also banned used oil filters from being placed in or accepted for disposal in a landfill.

11. Why is used motor oil so harmful?
One oil change - improperly disposed and not recycled - can contaminate one million gallons of fresh water, which is a year's supply for 50 people.

12. Can leaves and grass clippings go in the storm drain?
No. Even though leaves and grass are natural and biodegradable, these organic materials consume oxygen when they decompose and remove dissolved oxygen from the water. Fish and other aquatic organisms require oxygen and will die in the absence of oxygen.

13. Why is it important to monitor construction activities?
Dirt, materials, and trash from construction and/or land clearing activities can be washed into the City's drainage system. Remember, the drainage system is not a treatment system. These pollutants flow directly into local waterways where they can have a negative impact on water quality.

14. So, what's the solution?
The solution is to keep dirt and trash on your site by having an adequate plan and simple devices in place to contain runoff.

15. Construction Stormwater Management
Best Management Practices (BMPs) in this category are designed to address stormwater runoff from construction sites that are 1 acre or larger. Construction site operators are required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to develop a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and comply with regulations contained in the Construction General Permit. The City is required to implement ordinances and procedures to ensure that construction site operators comply with State regulations.

16. Post Construction Stormwater Management
Best Management Practices (BMPs) address stormwater runoff from areas of new development and redevelopment. Unlike the temporary BMPs during construction, post-construction BMPs are permanent and are used to control pollution after construction is completed. Post-construction BMPs should be incorporated into development projects and provide for the long-term operation and maintenance of post-construction BMPs.

17. What are the control measures that City implements as part of the program?
The City of Bee Cave has developed a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) to comply with State and Federal regulations and to improve the quality of life in our city. The SWMP contains activities to reduce the amount of pollution in the stormwater that runs off into our waterways. The six stormwater quality minimum controls are as follows:

Public Education and Outreach on Storm Water Impacts
Public Involvement/Participation
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control
Post-Construction Storm Water Management in New Development and Redevelopment
Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations

18. Storm Water Quality Outreach
Avoiding stormwater pollution takes everyone in the community to play his or her part in preventing pollutants from entering storm drain inlets where they live and work. You can help prevent stormwater pollution by becoming more aware of the issue, stopping harmful leaks and spills and reporting to City of Bee Cave at 512-767-6675.

You can help keep our streams healthy by participating in Stream Cleanup projects or Storm Drain Marking events. The City is looking for volunteer organizations to participate in stream cleanup or to help glue markers on storm drain inlets.