Runoff

Best Management Practices

Runoff picks up oil, fertilizer, and other pollutants and carries them through ditches and storm drains. These contaminants are deposited into natural waterways, lakes, and oceans, creating health hazards for homeowners, farmers, and ecosystems.

Why is Stormwater Runoff a Problem?

Stormwater runoff from your property can pick up a number of pollutants and harmful materials on its way to rivers and streams.

Runoff is the number one way pollutants enter our local waterways, it is critical that we be aware of what ends up on the ground and ultimately, in our storm drains.

Bioswales are channels designed to move stormwater downhill from one location to another. They include plants which help filter the stormwater and absorb some of it into the ground.

Bioswales

Permeable pavers capture runoff by collecting water through the joints between pavers. The water moves through layers of gravel below the pavers and then soaks into the ground. Excess water is sometimes carried away through a perforated pipe and slowly released back to the sewer system.

Permeable Pavers

KC Water is implementing various BMPs around Kansas City to help manage and control stormwater runoff.

Best Management Practices

Bioretention basins are filled with plants to absorb excess stormwater from rooftops, sidewalks, and streets.

Layers of rock and soil store the water. A buried underdrain system drains the excess water, slowly releasing water to the sewer system.

Bioretention Basins

​One of 18 bioretention basins along the 74th St. corridor, between Paseo and Prospect

Rainwater is collected and sent to the extended wetland detention at 81st and Troost Park. This helps cutdown on flooding in addition to rerouting water back to nature.

Extended Wetland Detention