Storm Water Quality and Pollution Prevention

2024-2025 Annual Report

The Adopt-a-Storm-Drain program invites Draper City residents to help protect local waterways by keeping storm drain grates and surrounding areas clear of pollutants such as trash, dirt, and fallen leaves. By participating, volunteers play a direct role in reducing pollution that can negatively impact streams and rivers while also helping to minimize the risk of localized flooding  

Stream and River Pollution

Storm drains typically carry storm water directly into nearby streams, rivers, and lakes without treatment.

When large amounts of organic material such as leaves, grass clippings, and soil enter and accumulate in waterways, two highlighted issues can occur:

Dissolved Oxygen Depletion Through Decomposition

As bacteria and microorganisms break down organic material in the water, they consume dissolved oxygen. This reduction in available dissolved oxygen can stress or kill fish and other aquatic organisms.

Algal Blooms Through Excess Nutrients

Organic materials are often nutrient rich and excess amounts can trigger the growth of algae, known as algal blooms. Some algal blooms develop into harmful algal blooms (HABs), many of which produce toxins that pose risks to people, animals, and aquatic ecosystems. As the algae die and decompose, they further reduce dissolved oxygen levels, potentially creating a cycle of nutrient enrichment and dissolved oxygen depletion in the water.

Dissolved oxygen depletion and nutrient pollution are widespread issues in waterways across the United States and have been documented in Utah waterways, including the Jordan River.

Localized Flooding

When pollutants accumulate around storm drains, they can block water flow and contribute to flooding.

Participation

Volunteers are encouraged to check their adopted storm drain(s) at least once a month and before and after major storms. Simple actions such as removing debris, sweeping up leaves, and reporting larger maintenance issues help keep our local waterways healthy and our storm drains functioning properly.

To adopt a storm drain, visit our map of available and claimed storm drains throughout the city. Select an available drain and submit the brief adoption application. Please note that group and storm drain names are public and will be screened for appropriateness. If approved, this will be your drain to maintain and care for to keep our waterways clean. We appreciate your support!

Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) 

The SWMP is developed and maintained to fulfill the requirements of the UPDES Small MS4 General Permit. This document describes how Draper City will implement and enforce its SWMP.

Illicit Discharges and Illegal Dumping

For storm water management purposes:

• An illicit discharge refers to any release, spill, or leak of any substance or material, other than storm water, that enters the storm water system or a waterway and is not specifically allowed or authorized.
  
  
• Illegal dumping refers to the intentional disposal or placement of waste into a waterway, the storm water system, or any location where the waste can be transported by storm water or ground water to a waterway.

Report an Illicit Discharge or Illegal Dumping

If you witness or suspect an illicit discharge or illegal dumping, please report it immediately using the contact information below. Review the following linked list of exceptions to reporting before calling. 

Exempt Discharges 

If there is an immediate threat to life or property:

• Call 911

Draper City Storm Water

• Business Hours: (801) 576-6331
• After Hours: (385) 281-3568

Salt Lake County Health Department — Emergency Line

• (385) 468-8888

Utah Division of Environmental Quality

• (801) 536-4123

Whenever possible, please report incidents via phone. You may also click the button at the bottom of the page to report online.

Water pollution is contamination of water by pollutants that entered water sources without first being treated to remove compounds that are dangerous to people and animals. It also hurts entire communities with major damage that takes years to clean up. Examples of water pollution include animal waste in a stream or pond, compounds in the air mixed with water from a rain storm, and oil spills.

Draper City strives to provide good, clean water for its residents, and does so by carefully monitoring commercial, construction, industrial and residential activities that may cause water pollution.

Learn best practices to keep our water supply clean in the following areas:

Commercial

At commercial sites, chemical spills that contain toxic substances and uncovered or unprotected outdoor storage or waste areas can contribute pollutants to storm water runoff. Trash and litter from parking lots and dumpster areas also have the potential to wash into the storm drain system. Best management practices include:

• • Detergents, oils, and greases. Don’t wash off detergents, oils, and greases into streets, parking lots, or storm drains.
  • Cover fuel islands. Divert rainfall runoff from fueling islands by building a canopy or cover over them.
  • Seal hazardous liquids. Any barrels containing potentially hazardous liquids should be in a sealed container, stored inside a building or under cover, and propped up on pallets with secondary containment in case of a spill.
  • Discharge waste and processed water. Waste and processed water of any type must be discharged to the sanitary sewer. Discharge of waste water to the ground or storm drains is prohibited.
  • Know spill cleanup procedures. Be sure to know spill cleanup procedures. Have cleanup materials nearby with a spill prevention plan known by all employees.
  • Waste storage must be under cover. Waste storage for used oils, solvents and other hazardous fluids must be under cover with secondary containment in case of a spill and to prevent rainfall from washing hazardous fluids into nearby storm drains.
  • Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers for lawn care. Following manufacturer’s recommendations maximizes the effectiveness of these potential pollutants while minimizing the amount of product required. Sweep or blow remaining products off the street and sidewalks back onto the lawn. Keep products in a sealed container in a covered storage facility.
  • Salt or other de-icing materials. Following manufacturer’s recommendations maximizes the effectiveness of these products while minimizing the amount of product required. Keep products in a sealed container in a covered storage facility to prevent these products from being in contact with rain and snow.
  • Impervious surfaces and dumpsters. Regular sweeping of impervious surfaces such as sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots. Regular inspections of dumpster and dumpster enclosures to clean up loose trash and replacement of leaking or damaged trash receptacles.
  • Construct low impact development structures. Construct on-site infiltration structures that divert storm water runoff from the storm drain system. These structures have the ability to slow the flow of runoff, spread the runoff out, and allow the runoff to soak into the ground after it travels through one or more filtration techniques rather than immediately discharged to Draper City’s storm drain system. These are also known as “Low Impact Development” structures (LID).

Construction and Industrial

Waste from chemicals and materials used in construction and industrial sites can wash into storm drains during rainy weather. Soil that erodes from construction and industrial sites can contribute to environmental degradation. Listed below are best practices to help reduce storm water pollution.

• • SWPPP is required for construction projects. A Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is required on all construction projects. Industrial sites should also complete a SWPPP. These plans assist Draper City, owners, developers, and contractors with implementing good housekeeping techniques and best management practices. It also ensures compliance with federal, state, and local code.
  • Vehicles and equipment. Vehicle and equipment maintenance becomes a significant factor when engine repairs or preventive maintenance such as changing oil and other fluids occurs at the construction site.
  • Use a “dry site.” Maintain a “dry site” by using off-site facilities, performing work in designated areas only, providing cover for materials stored outside, containing and cleaning up spills immediately, and training employees and subcontractors.
  • Disposing wash waters from concrete mixers. Disposing water from wash waters from concrete mixers should be disposed of back at the contractor’s site or a large lined pit, big enough to contain all the wash waters. Never rinse out concrete truck chutes with a hose and allow the water to run down the street gutter into the storm drains.
  • Used oils and solvents. Waste storage for used oils, solvents and other hazardous fluids must be under cover with secondary containment in case of a spill and to prevent rainfall from contact, which would wash hazardous fluids into nearby storm drains.
  • Landscaping pollutants. Landscaping and earthmoving pollutants include planting, excavation, tilling, masonry and concrete; solid wastes such as trees and shrubs, soil additives and re-vegetation of graded areas, all contribute to soil erosion. Use silt fences to hold back loose soil. Applying water to disturbed and sandy areas minimizes dust when it gets windy and allows sand and soils to stay out of street gutters where rainwater can wash it into storm drains.
  • Construct low impact development structures. Construct on-site infiltration structures that divert storm water runoff from the storm drain system. These structures have the ability to slow the flow of runoff, spread the runoff out, and allow the runoff to soak into the ground after it travels through one or more filtration techniques rather than immediately discharged to Draper City’s storm drain system. These are also known as “Low Impact Development” structures (LID).

Residential

Each Draper resident can do their part to reduce their contribution to residential storm water. Here are best practices for storm water management as a resident:

• Vehicle fluids are the number one problem. Vehicle fluids such as oil, gas and antifreeze are the #1 surface water quality problems. Recycle used oil in a clean, sealed, plastic container. Catch any leaking automotive fluids under vehicles.
• Clean up after your pet. Pet waste left on the ground gets carried away by storm water, contributing harmful bacteria, parasites and viruses to our river.
• Sweep or blow rather than use a hose. Hosing off pavements washes pollutants into storm drains. Sweeping or blowing is preferred.
• Don’t wash vehicles on driveways or hard surfaces. Wash vehicles on grass, vegetated area, or a specified car washing facility to prevent these pollutants from being discharged into the storm drain system.
• Use hazardous waste drop-off facilities. Deliver old paint, pesticides, solvents and batteries to any of the available hazardous waste drop-off facilities.
• Use yard waste as fertilizer. Yard waste such as grass clippings, tree trimmings and leaves can be composted and used for fertilizer around the yard.
• Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers used for lawn care. Following manufacturer’s recommendations will maximize the effectiveness of products while minimizing the amount of product required. Sweep or blow remaining products off the street and sidewalks back onto the lawn. Keep products in a sealed container in a covered storage facility to prevent these products from being in contact with rain and snow.
• Chlorinated water from swimming pools. Drain all pool water into the sanitary sewer system to prevent these chemicals from entering into the storm drain system.
• Wastewater discharge to sanitary sewer. Waste and processed water of any type must be discharged to the sanitary sewer. Discharge of wastewater to the ground or storm drains is prohibited.
• Salt or other de-icing materials. Following manufacturer’s recommendations maximizes the effectiveness of these products while minimizing the amount of product required. Keep products in a sealed container in a covered storage facility to prevent these products from being in contact with rain and snow.

Draper City is a member of the Salt Lake County Storm Water Coalition, which includes representatives from each participating municipality, along with scientists, directors, and engineers who lead coordinated permit regulations and compliance.