What happens when it rains?
Welcome to our stormwater learning page! Here you'll find a variety of information and resources related to our stormwater system. You'll also find resources and means for contacting us should you have a question or wish to get involved in an activity. As we develop new resources we'll add them here.
Before we get started it is important that we remind ourselves how critical it is that we take care of our water resources, including what happens when it rains. After all, rain is the only input into the hydrologic cycle! Rain is precious as is all of our water resources. Life could not exist without it.
So, what happens when it rains?
When it rains, some water gets absorbed into the soil where it helps plants and trees grow. Other water flows off the soil and into lakes, streams, and rivers where it serves as drinking water for wildlife. This water is called runoff, which can be defined as precipitation that did not get absorbed (did not infiltrate) into the soil or that did not evaporate.
Of course, in the Morgantown area, the water we drink, bathe in, and brush our teeth with is also impacted by this runoff. This means that in populated areas like Morgantown, our water doesn't just runoff soil but a number of different impervious surfaces. These surfaces are things such as as roadways, street surfaces, sidewalks, driveways, rooftops of homes and businesses, and other surfaces that repel or prevent water from infiltrating into the soil where it can be absorbed.
Because water from impervious surfaces is not absorbed, it must be managed by what we call a stormwater system. This system includes a number of storm drains like this one and this one. These storm drains are extremely important in that they protect our community from flooding by managing the impervious water run off so that it flows away from our homes and businesses. It is important to note that these storm drains collect more than just rain water. They also take in snow melt, water from sprinklers used to water lawns, garden hoses, and essentially any liquid that makes its way into the storm drain.
These storm drains form part of our overall stormwater system that is connected through large underground pipes and conduits. This stormwater system conveys water collected in storm drains to one of two places. In some areas, the stormwater flows to our Star City Wastewater Treatment Plant. There it is processed and released into the Monongahela River. However, much of our stormwater flows directly to various area streams and the Monongahela River completely untreated.
What happens to untreated stormwater?
Regular stormwater flows that reach the Star City Wastewater Treatment Plant are treated and released into the Monongahela River along with other sanitary waste. Other stormwater that flows directly to local streams and the river is completely untreated. This means that any pollutants that the water picks up along the way is washed directly to these waterways.
What are the primary pollutants in stormwater?
Stormwater pollutants can include everything and anything that is on the ground. This can include grass clippings, trash, car oils and coolants, chemicals, paint, building construction waste, cigarette butts, animal waste, and countless other items.
How are stormwater pollutants cleaned up?
While we sponsor and participate in clean ups along our local waterways, we currently have no way to clean up pollutants that reach local streams and the river. They either collect in the water until they decompose (which many materials do not do) or they slowly wash down the river toward Pittsburgh. As might be imagined, materials that do not float mostly collect at the bottom of our streams and rivers.
What is the impact of this?
Wildlife that depends on our waterways- from fish to turtles and bald eagles- are harmed by pollutants. This is why it is so critical that we all work together in protecting our stormwater from contaminants.
What can I do to help?
There are a lot of things that you can do to help...
- Do not throw trash onto the ground
- Do not put or pour anything into a storm drain
- If your pet uses the bathroom outside, clean it up. Pet waste is actually a primary pollutant in our waterways!
- Wash vehicles at either a commercial carwash or on a grass surface. When vehicles are washed in paved driveways, the soap and grime flows into a storm drain and to our local waterways.
- After you mow the grass, sweep up any clippings from paved surfaces.
- Participate in trash pickups. Better yet, organize a clean up!
- Educate family members of the importance of protecting our stormwater system.
- If you see someone dumping or placing material into a storm drain, messing with a storm drain, see a clogged storm drain, or a storm drain that has been broken, give us a call at (304) 292-8443 or email us mubmail@mub.org.
- Participate in Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day.
- If you notice a construction site from which mud is flowing onto the street or into a storm drain, let us know.
Remember: YOU are the eyes and ears of our community. If you see something do something or let us know. Protecting our stormwater is everyone's responsibility!
What resources are available on our water system?
Depending on your interests, here are some items that may be of assistance.
- MUB's Stormwater Activity Book
- Our Awesome Water Facts Brochure
- Water and You Brochure
- Visit our stormwater page
- Learn about stormwater with Freddy the Fish
Have questions or need additional information? Contact us at:
- By email:
- By telephone: (304) 292-8443