Annual Report
Make it Shine Cleanup
Stormwater Pollution
Stormwater runoff involves water not absorbed by the ground when it rains. Due to the urban expansion, this has become a growing concern as man-made impervious surfaces, such as rooftops, parking lots and roads increase the amount of stormwater runoff into our watershed. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now considers this one of the leading causes of water pollution in our streams.
The EPA has designated Fairmont, like many other cities across the state, as a "Phase II" Storm Water Community. According to the Clean Water Act, a Phase II designation requires cities to actively manage storm water to the new EPA standards or face significant penalties. While a number of cities have brought challenges to this unfunded mandate, the Courts have upheld U.S. EPA's ability to impose storm water control requirements. Accordingly, Fairmont, along with dozens of other communities in West Virginia and thousands nationwide, is moving to implement a reasonable storm water control program. Otherwise we will violate our federal Clean Water Act permits.
Forms
Stormwater Management Plan
For comments about the City of Fairmont Storm Water Management Plan (PDF), contact the Storm Water Department at 304-366-6231.
Fairmont's Stormwater Management Plan includes:
- Finding and addressing illegal sanitary sewer discharges to the storm drainage systems
- Green infrastructure programs using:
- Bioswales
- Rain Barrels
- Rain Gardens
- Maintaining and improving the water quality in the receiving streams
- Promoting public education and outreach on storm water pollution and prevention methods
- Reducing pollutants in storm water discharges to the maximum extent practical
Stormwater Pollution Solutions You Can Do at Home
- When using fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, read and follow all the directions carefully
- Avoid applying pesticides and fertilizers before storms
- Never apply pesticides or fertilizers near streams and ditches unless instructions allow for such use
Environmentally Friendly Alternatives
Leave your grass clippings on the lawn. Grass clippings dramatically reduce the need for chemical fertilizer.
Documents
Fairmont Uses Rain Gardens to Help Control Stormwater Runoff
View the Stream Clean Up 2018 photo gallery.
