Environmental Water Quality

The City of Oklahoma City has a broad-based environmental program to address the water quality and aquatic ecological needs of the community.  In the earliest phase of the program, 554 water quality monitoring sites were established to inventory, detect and remediate any illicit discharges on a pro-active annual schedule. 

Water quality testing at one of 554
dry weather monitoring site.

As the Environmental Water Quality Section developed, five (5) independent subprograms were included to meet the needs of identifying priority areas and sources of pollution.  Currently, the Environmental Water Quality Section consists of five (5) full time positions and four (4) seasonal positions.  The program goals are simply to identify, reduce and eliminate sources of pollution through collection of necessary baseline condition information, illicit discharge detection and storm event loading calculations.  The key Environmental Water Quality Section Programs are listed below.

Collection of aquatic life for
 determination of stream health

Watershed Characterization Program (Map) – This program was established in 2001 to develop baseline information on the streams within Oklahoma City’s corporate boundaries.  The program includes a water quality monitoring, biological monitoring and a stream habitat monitoring aspect within each outfall basin.

 Wet Weather Analytical Monitoring (“Storm Event Monitoring”) – This program was developed to determine event mean pollutant loadings during elevated hydrological events.  Water quality personnel sample outfalls during and after the “first flush” and throughout the rise in stream stage for a period of three (3) hours.  Equal sample volumes are collected every 20 minutes and flow weighted proportions are extracted from each sample for composite in the laboratory.

Floatable Debris Monitoring – This program was initially developed to determine the type and quantities of floatable debris that are discharging into the separate storm sewer system (MS4).  The program was upgraded into 2004 to trap and remove floatable debris discharging into the Oklahoma River, which flows through downtown Oklahoma City.

Optical Brightener Monitoring – This program was developed to detect optical brighteners that are often associated with sanitary sewage.  Optical brighteners, often termed “bleach alternatives”, can be an indicator of cross connections, direct discharge of wash water or leaking sanitary sewer lines.  Currently, water quality personnel deploy these devices in the storm drain system at over 100 permanent locations and often during water quality investigations to locate sanitary sewer leaks.

Watershed Characterization Program:

This is a rotating monitoring program, which assesses a specific major basin for approximately two (2) years before moving to the next major basin.  The program was developed on a ten (10) year completion period.  This completion period will span two (2) separate Oklahoma City NPDES MS4 Permit periods.  Completion of the program is scheduled in 2011.  The information collected will be utilized for multiple purposes such as identifying key high water quality resources and areas that are not meeting state water quality guidelines.  The Watershed Characterization program contains a water quality analytical, biological and physical monitoring aspect, if conditions are suitable for the collection of these parameters.

Canadian River Basin:

Initiated in May 2002, the Watershed Characterization Program was initiated in the Canadian River Basin.  Monitoring locations were selected from each sub-basin within Oklahoma City that drain into the Canadian River Basin.  Thirty (30) monitoring locations were selected for intensive investigation.   Depending on site conditions, water quality, water quantity, habitat and biological information was collected.

North Canadian River Basin (West):

Initiated in June 2003, the Watershed Characterization Program was initiated in the North Canadian Basin (West).  Monitoring locations were selected within each sub-basin within Oklahoma City draining into the North Canadian River / Oklahoma River stream segments.  Twenty-four (24) monitoring locations were selected.  Depending on site conditions, water quality, water quantity, habitat and biological information was collected.

North Canadian River Basin (East):
Initiated in August 2006, the Watershed Characterization Program was initiated in the North Canadian River (East).  Monitoring locations were selected within each sub-basin within Oklahoma City corporate boundaries and that drain into the North Canadian River / Oklahoma River stream segments.  Thirty (30) monitoring locations were selected.  Depending on site conditions, water quality, water quantity, habitat and biological information was collected.

Watershed Characterization Basin Schedule:

Basin

Implementation Schedule

Canadian River Basin   
North Canadian River Basin (West)
North Canadian River Basin (East)
Deer Creek Basin
Deep Fork River Basin

2002 – 2004
2004 – 2006
2006 - 2007
2007 - 2009
2009 - 2011

*See Water Quality Monitoring Video

Wet Weather Analytical Monitoring Program:

Also known as the “Storm Event Monitoring Program” has been in place during the previous, current and is anticipated to be in place through the next permit cycle.  This program consists of developing information on the water quality during runoff conditions.  Calculations are applied to determine event mean loadings of each of the particular parameters.  Two (2) types of monitoring locations were selected; rotating and permanent.  Permanent monitoring locations were selected from sub-basins that best fit the overall landuse of the entire major basin.  Rotating basins were selected to represent specific types of landuse (i.e. – commercial, industrial, open space and residential).

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program:

Also known as the Dry Weather Field Screening Program is probably our oldest water quality monitoring program SWQ personnel implement.  This program screens over 550 open channel, closed conduit and outfall structures annually.  Seven (7) parameters are analyzed at each location, if specific site conditions are met.  Positive detections are tracked to the source and eliminated through various procedures including Education, Administrative Action or Enforcement Actions.

*See Dry Weather Field Screening Video

Floatable Debris Monitoring and Removal Program:

This program was originally designed to categorize, collect and remove floatable debris from the storm sewer network within Oklahoma City.  In 2004, the program was enhanced to protect the Oklahoma River segment along downtown Oklahoma City.  Currently, the Environmental Water Quality Section maintains ten (10) netting structures and twenty (20) storm drain inserts.

Optical Brighteners Monitoring:

The optical brightener monitoring is our newest water quality program.  The program was implemented in 2004 to detect possible sanitary sewer line leaks, cross connections, illegal connections and other forms of wash water discharge.  Optical brightener is often referred to as the “bleach alternative” and is used as a brightener in laundry detergents.  Environmental Water Quality personnel place small devices in the receiving waterways, closed conduit systems and open concrete channels.  Each device is kept in place for a period of 4-6 days during dry weather conditions.  The swaths are then viewed under a black light to confirm the presence of optical brightener.

Other Programs:

Special projects often spur off the key programs such as the Regional Detention Pond Monitoring, mitigation projects, various confined entry and other technical support operations (such as pollution investigations, acquiring samples for enforcement action/evidence and drainage studies). 

One of the critical issues is defining the pollutants that need to be controlled in a particular waterbody to effectively manage that water resource.  The Environmental Water Quality Section monitors structural BMPs and directs necessary resources towards the operation and maintenance of these structures. 

Stormwater Quality Management
Derek Johnson, Section Head
420 West Main, 7th Floor
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Phone: 405-297-1517
Fax:   405-297-1770
E-mail: derek.johnson@okc.gov