WCO FAq's
A list of our most frequently asked questions and the answers, of course.
What is a Watershed?
A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place.
A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place. John Wesley Powell, scientist geographer, put it best when he said that a watershed is: “that area of land, a bounded hydrologic system, within which all living things are inextricably linked by their common water course and where, as humans settled, simple logic demanded that they become part of a community.” (Source: EPA, 2011)
To find out what watershed you live in visit http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/locate/index.cfm
Missouri is part of the largest watershed in the United States, the Mississippi River Basin (Figure 1.a). The Missouri River is the largest watershed in the Mississippi River Basin. The Sac River Watershed lies in the Missouri River Basin just above the Arkansas-Red-White River Basin. The Sac River Watershed is number 34 on the Missouri Watershed Map (Figure 1.b). Click on the map to learn more about the Sac River Watershed.
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Non-Point Source Pollution
Non-point source (NPS) pollution is the leading remaining cause of water quality problems in our local watersheds, and our national watersheds. The following information is directly from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and can be found at http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/whatis.cfm
What is non-point source pollution?
Non-point source pollution generally results from land runoff, precipitation, atmospheric deposition, drainage, seepage or hydrologic modification. The term “non-point source” is defined to mean any source of water pollution that does not meet the legal definition of “point source” in section 502(14) of the Clean Water Act. That definition states:
The term “point source” means any discernible, confined and discrete conveyance, including but not limited to any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, concentrated animal feeding operation, or vessel or other floating craft, from which pollutants are or may be discharged. This term does not include agricultural storm water discharges and return flows from irrigated agriculture.
Unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, nonpoint source (NPS) pollution comes from many diffuse sources. NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters and ground waters.
Non-point source pollution can include
- Excess fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas
- Oil, grease and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production
- Sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding stream banks
- Salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from abandoned mines
- Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes and faulty septic systems
- Atmospheric deposition and hydromodification
States report that non-point source pollution is the leading remaining cause of water quality problems. The effects of nonpoint source pollutants on specific waters vary and may not always be fully assessed. However, we know that these pollutants have harmful effects on drinking water supplies, recreation, fisheries and wildlife.
Where Does Springfield’s Drinking Water Come From?
The majority of Springfield’s drinking water comes from surface waters.
Springfield’s Drinking Water Supplies
Approximately 80 percent of Springfield’s drinking water comes from surface waters (lakes, rivers) and the rest from ground water (wells, spring). City Utilities’ Fulbright and Blackman Water Treatment Plants use a combination of sources for water treatment, including both surface and ground water. Fulbright is located on the northern edge of Springfield and is served by Fulbright Spring, the original source for the city, along with a deep well and McDaniel Lake. The Blackman plant is in the southeastern corner of the city and receives water from Fellows Lake, Stockton Lake and/or the James River.
Both Fellows and McDaniel Lakes can be supplemented with water from Stockton Lake. Also, three deep wells are located in the distribution system and are used as additional sources when needed. City Utilities works in conjunction with the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks to preserve and protect our watersheds (Information obtained from City Utilities Water Quality Report) Visit City Utilities website for more information https://www.cityutilities.net/customer/water/
How do I get my drinking water well tested?
It’s important to know the facts about testing your well water and your local County Health Department and the EPA are great resources.
If you are on a private drinking water well EPA recommends to have your well tested at least once a year. Call your local Health Department to check for current water testing fees. For more information on private drinking water wells visit: https://www.epa.gov/privatewells
Springfield-Greene County Health Department Water Testing
- 417-864-1673
- Or visit their website: http://health.springfieldmo.gov/2933/Water-Testing
View our brochure: Protect Your Well
What is stormwater?
The first hour of urban stormwater runoff has a pollution index far greater than that of raw sewage.
The first hour of urban stormwater runoff has a pollution index far greater than that of raw sewage, according to the University of Arkansas Community Design Center. Addressing pollution and flooding related to stormwater are important for our community and a mission related task of the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks.
Stormwater runoff occurs when precipitation from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and streets prevent stormwater runoff from soaking into the ground as it would naturally. Stormwater from urban areas can significantly affect water quality. To learn more about stormwater and the problems it can cause, visit the EPA’s excellent website for a more in depth explanation and illustrations: http://water.epa.gov/action/weatherchannel/stormwater.cfm
If you are interested in stormwater issues in Springfield, like where to report pollution, finding out what river or stream the stormwater from your neighborhood flows into, or the stormwater (MS4) permit many Cities are required to have, visit http://www.springfieldmo.gov/stormwater/
In general, we encourage people to think about hydration rather than drainage of the landscape: let water hydrate/soak into the soil to be cleansed by good bacteria and plants and recharge our aquifers with clean water rather than quickly draining which carries more pollution downstream and exacerbates floods. Best Management Practices and Low Impact Development strategies are used to improve stormwater quantity and quality in the built environment. Many of these practices are used at the Watershed Center at Valley Water Mill Park, and Watershed Staff can explain the practices and how they work.
For a good explanation of LID you might try this link: http://www.lid-stormwater.net/background.htm For a mind blowing amount of information about Stormwater BMP’s you might check out http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/