CITY OF KOKOMO MS4 STORMWATER PROGRAM
What Is Stormwater?
Stormwater runs off roads, sidewalks, parking lots- and even
the roof of your house after a rain. It comes from washing
the car, spraying off the driveway, watering the yard too
too much- and it all flows into a drain.
Through that funny looking metal
grate at the corner of the street.
Down through the openings where
its looks kind of dark, and dirty,
beneath your feet!
Here comes a raindrop- watch
where it flows. From the rooftop,
the sidewalk, along the curb it goes.
It moves faster, more quickly it
pours, its from the neighbors,
from my house, and yours.
Sometimes stormwater picks up bad stuff on
the way- things that can make you sick!
Things like paint, antifreeze,
weed & bug killer, soap suds,
gasoline, and more- ick!
It picks up a cigarette butt, a plastic shopping bag, and some dirt from a construction
site. There goes a candy bar wrapper, fertilizer from a yard, and some puppy dog
droppings- how impolite! Along comes some motor oil, a plastic bottle,
and even more trash. Add some grass clippings, leaves- and even a
rotten apple that’s smashed.
Then on down the street, into a storm grate- and straight into pipes
underground. The stormwater flows from one pipe, to a bigger one,
and then another- all through town.
Now its raining even harder, and
more raindrops pour in with a swirling
swish! Soon it empties straight out
into our creek- look out fish!
Now the creek is flooding, and it smells
funny too! Our water is full of icky stuff,
our fish are sick - what can we do!
We can do some things ourselves to make our city fantastic.
Recycle our aluminum cans, glass, paper, and plastic. Have mom
and dad take the old paint, used oil, anti-freeze, or batteries to
recycling centers on a waste collection day. Tell someone to
recycle their trash instead of just throwing it away.
Apply fertilizers, or spray for bugs in the garden- by using only what
the labels state. Do not apply them when its windy or raining, and keep
it from washing down a storm grate. Let’s build a composter and use
old banana peels, spoiled lettuce, grass clippings, and leaves. Turn
part of our trash into rich dirt- that our flower beds need.
Help out at a creek clean-up, or mark some inlets that
say- keep our water clean. We don’t want sick fish,
trash in the street, and icky streams. Call in- and
report someone dumping something they should not.
Tell them this is our creek- not your dumping spot.
Let’s build a barrel that stores rain from our roof- so we can use it to water our yard, and plants.
Or create a flower garden that holds water when it rains- to reduce flooding’s chance.
We can work with builders to plant grass when the soils nice & soft- and check on their
construction and roads. Make sure they keep their place clean- and
not lose dirt by the load. Have them build places to hold water next
to homes and parking lots. Where flowers can grow, and birds or
butterflies can have a living spot.
Lets stop throwing garbage on the ground, and place it
in a trash tote. Send sweeper trucks to clean our streets, and install basins
underground to catch the dirt & trash that floats. This can stop the junk
coming down our pipes- from washing into the creek. We can give the fish,
and ourselves- a better place to live, play, and eat!
This brochure was made available by the City of Kokomo.
Greg Goodnight, Mayor of the City of Kokomo
Carey Stranahan, City Engineer/MS4 Operator
Don Cree, Stormwater Manager
Please Contact The Following Agencies For Additional Information:
For Stormwater Activities in the City of Kokomo call:
Don Cree
Stormwater Manager
City of Kokomo
100 S. Union St.
Kokomo, IN 46901
Phone: (765) 456-7400
Email: [email protected]
For Information on Stormwater Activities in Howard County call:
Howard County Stormwater District
Phone: (765) 456-2217
www.co.howard.in.u/surveyor
For Information on Illegal Dumping, Mosquito Control, Septic Tanks, etc., call:
Howard County Health Department
100 E Mulberry St.
Kokomo, In 46901
Phone: (765) 456-2407
www.co.howard.in.u/health
For Information on Fertilizers, Herbicides, Pesticides, Lawn Care, etc., call:
Howard County/ Purdue University Extension
Howard County Government Building
100 E. Mulberry St.
Kokomo, IN 46901
Phone: (765) 456-2313
For Information on Composting, Electronics Drop Off, Household Hazardous Waste Disposal, Tire
Recycling, Needle & Lancet Sharps Recycling, and General Recycling call:
Howard County Recycling Office
Cartwright Drive
Kokomo, IN 46902
Phone: (765)456-2274
www.countyrecycling.org
For Information on Erosion Control, Soils, Tree & Wildflower Plantings, Wildlife Habitat, etc., call:
Howard County Soil & Water Conservation District
1103 S.Goyer Road
Kokomo, IN 46902
Phone: (765) 457-2114 ext. 3
www.howardswcd.com
For Opportunities to Learn about the Wildcat Creek, Water Quality Monitoring, Canoeing,
Becoming a Volunteer for Creek Clean Up, etc., contact:
Wildcat Guardians
P.O. Box 6421
Kokomo, IN 46904-6421
www.wildcatguardians.org