Stormwater Division

Overview

The City's Stormwater Division oversees 311 culverts, three detention ponds, and Williams Canyon. These locations are cleaned and maintained twice a year - once in the spring, and once in the fall. Cleaning these locations involve:

• Removing excess dirt and hauling it to a different location
• Pressure washing and vacuuming storm drains
• Removal of trash and debris
• Removal of overgrown vegetation
• Cleaning and vacuuming of flood gates

MS4 Permit Requirement Compliance

Per the State of Colorado’s MS4 permit the City of Manitou Springs operates under, the permittee must develop and maintain records in the form of a Program Description Document (PDD). The PDD is publicly available for review and comment through the Stormwater Office. 

The Environmental Protection Agency regulates stormwater, whereas the State of Colorado ensures compliance with the program. Major impacts from these programs are:

• All construction sites over 1 acre must be inspected once a month by Stormwater Staff to ensure the site is not discharging into the waterways
• Any illicit discharge must be reported to the State of Colorado.

Where Pollution Comes From

Pollution comes from all of us. Many things contribute to stormwater pollution:

• Lawn fertilizers and pesticides
• Leftover paint
• Motor oil
• Oil leaks on streets and parking lots
• Pet waste
• Sediment from construction sites
• Yard waste (grass clippings)

Rainwater and snowmelt pick up all these pollutants and carry them downstream to our creeks, lakes, rivers, and eventually to our oceans. Each year this runoff pollution adds up to more pollution than industry creates in a year. Manitou Springs residents enjoy pristine water from our own watershed on Pikes Peak. We are first time users of the water we drink and use every day, Think about all the people downstream from us; their water contains any pollutants we add before it reaches them.

Help Stop the Pollution of Our Streams

To report illegal dumping or contaminants in a storm drain system contact Manitou Stormwater Division at 719-685-2558 or after hours, call the police at 719-390-5555

There’s a Fish on Your Street

These storm drain markers are being affixed next to the storm drains to remind people that the drains flow to the creek and that dumping will affect aquatic life and degrade water quality.

Water runs downhill. Water picks up everything. Water flows to our rivers, streams, and creeks. Do your part to keep our water clean. Dumping liquid or solid waste into a storm drain or creek is a crime! If you see illegal dumping, report it.