Christie Putnam, Stormwater Director - The City of Concord Stormwater Department is proud of our natural resources and constantly looking for ways to enhance the quality of life for our citizens. One way we are trying to make a difference is by improving the quality of water in our creeks, streams, rivers and lakes. This can only be done as a group effort with all citizens. Everyone can help this effort by being cautious of what goes down the storm drains.

Storm drains are installed in streets and drainage areas to collect water and direct the runoff into larger drainage features. This water is not treated, but goes directly into our rivers and lakes. Protecting the quality of the water transported through out storm drainage system is vital to enhancing our quality of life. Clean water runoff translates directly to the health of our ecosystem. Clean water supports fish and wildlife habitat, many recreational uses and is essential for our water supply.

Maintaining storm drains clear of debris is also vital to prevent flooding. Leaves, grass clippings, limbs, grease, trash and anything else dumped into the storm drains will eventually build up over time and impede the flow of water through the system. This can cause flooding of the roads you travel everyday or even homes.

How can we help keep our streams healthy? Don’t dump anything down the drain. Let your neighbors know. Pick up pet waste and do not over fertilize you yards. Rain water picks up pollutants along the way to the storm drain and deposits them in our streams. Keeping our yards free of these elements improves the quality of our streams. As we all work together, we will preserve this natural resource for future generations to enjoy.