Stormwater Protection

Stormwater is runoff from rain or snow melt. While stormwater is beneficial at the local level, once stormwater moves across areas of land disturbance, roofs, pavement, and other impervious surfaces, it can pick up pollutants, or even cause erosion and flooding when left unrestricted. The City of St. Joseph has ordinances to manage storm­water through construction site controls, detention and water quality requirements, and illegal dumping and polluting regulations. 

The city of St. Joseph complies with state and federal regulations for stormwater con­trol and treatment and a stormwater management program is required. St. Joseph is a designated Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) community because a por­tion of our stormwater flows from streets and paved surfaces untreated into streams and rivers though the stormwater conveyance system. 

Residents, businesses, and property managers can do their part to protect water quality on their property. There are many potential ways to create your own benefits using cap­tured stormwater. Learn more about how residents and businesses can impact our waterways.  

The community can enjoy public stormwater system improvements at the Northeast Parkway Wetland, the Lilac Hill Rain Garden, the Water Protection Plant Rain Garden, and Fire Station 9. 

For any questions or concerns, please contact the Stormwater Quality Coordinator, Colleen Armstrong, at 596-8006 or through email.