Storm Water Quality

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What is SWQ?

 
( Now In Spanish, See below)

Downstream  - 4th Quarter 2012

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and the Storm Water Quality Division (SWQ) recently received the Patriot Award presented by the Department of Defense for Extraordinary Support of Employees serving in the Oklahoma National Guard and Reserve. SSG Bruce D. Teel, SWQ Environmental Technician, recently spent 10 months serving our nation in Afghanistan, 7000 miles away from home. During this time SWQ supported Bruce and his fellow servicemen by sending care packages and prayers. Upon his return Bruce nominated the City for this prestigious award.  

According to Brigadier General Tom DeSpain “The Patriot Award was created to publicly recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees, who like the citizen warriors before them, have answered their nations call to serve.”  

SWQ Videos!!!

(click on videos below)

City warns residents not to release swimming pool water into storm drains:

 
As swim season winds down swimming pool owners preparing to drain their pool are reminded that it is illegal to discharge chlorinated pool water down their neighborhood storm drain. 

 According to Storm Water Quality supervisor Raymond Melton, water that flows from neighborhoods down storm drains is not filtered before it flows into the Canadian River, South Canadian River, Deer Creek basin and Deep Fork basin.   

 “Native fish and small aquatic life living in our rivers don’t have a tolerance for even the smallest amounts of chlorine and other pollution,” said Melton. “Having a healthy aquatic life is important to the City’s eco-system.”

 If your pool isn’t connected to a sanitary sewer line for draining, the water must be de-chlorinated before releasing it into a storm drain.  Under the Oklahoma City Municipal Code, fines can range from $200 -$1,000 per day for each violation.

 Oklahoma City’s Curbs to Creeks program is a volunteer effort to mark storm drains in Oklahoma City with a sticker reminding people that the water that goes into drains flows into our rivers. Those interested in marking drains in their neighborhood can call 297-1774. 

 For more information about storm drain contamination or to report a violation, call 297-1774.

Summer Programs and School Programs
Need an interactive program for your summer classes or next school year? Programs are available for any grade or youth group. Contact 297-1774 to schedule storm water activities including aquatic insects, stream hydrology, storm sewers, and the water cycle.

Storm Water Training Workshops
Storm Water Quality holds bi-annual workshops for contractors, developers and industrial facilities/businesses permitted with Oklahoma City.  These workshops cover any regulatory changes or developments that have changed, and they are also a great venue to answer any questions about the different aspects of the storm water program.

 Need a Speaker?
Our staff is available to speak to your club on topics related to storm water or The City of Oklahoma City’s Storm Water program.

Stormwater Quality Management
Raymond Melton, Division Head
420 West Main, 3rd Floor
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Phone: 405-297-1774
Fax:   405-297-1770
E-mail: jessica.gravlin@okc.gov