Department Manager:  Terry L. Fisher
Email: terryf@townofchandler.org

Public Meetings are held the fourth Monday of each month at 6:00 P.M. starting time. The SW board reviews storm water drainage plans for new subdivisions and participates in determining the goals and objectives for the department. Projects are reviewed and recommendations for actions are made. Residents have an opportunity to attend these meetings and express any concerns they have concerning quality and quantity water issues within the town.

1. Public Education: efforts to inform the public of water pollution and its negative effects
2. Public Involvement: Voluntary efforts from the public such as clean up days
3. Illicit Discharge Elimination: Control of Business and Industry pollution
4. Construction Site Run Off Control: Use of silt fencing, straw, retention ponds, etc. for sediment runoff control
5. Post Construction Run Off Control: Permanent methods to control SW runoff after construction phase is completed
6. Good Housekeeping: Control of trash-debris, chemicals, animal waste, street cleaning, etc.

• Improved Water Quality
• Increased Community Involvement
• Safer Waters for boating, swimming and fishing
• Reduced local drinking water treatment cost
• A more desirable environment in which to live and work
• Less damage from flooding and drainage problems

Web Site for additional EPA information: www.epa.gov/owow/nps/prevent.html

Keep storm water drains, inlets and ditches free of trash, debris, leaves, and DO NOT USE DITCHES AND DRAINS AS A PLACE TO DUMP USED OIL AND OTHER CHEMICALS.  ONLY RAIN SHOULD GO INTO THE DRAINS!

Urban growth creates more surfaces that will not soak up rain water and therefore, adds to the storm water runoff, a community growth issue that needs regulating and monitoring

Every time a flood event occurs, more trash, debris, and other harmful contaminants enter into the water shed-ditches flow to creeks, creeks flow to rivers and lakes flood-THE NUMBER ONE CONTAMINATE TO THE WATERSHED IS SEDIMENT (DIRT) RUNOFF

Run off from Urban Areas is a source of pollution in 13% of impaired rivers and 21% of impaired lakes, ponds and reservoirs in the U.S.

WATER CONSERVATION PRACTICES FOR HOMEOWNERS

According to studies, only about 4 of the estimated 100 gallons of water each person uses daily is actually necessary.  Each homeowner/renter/landlord could do much by doing a "CHECK FOR LEAKS" program at each home/business.  Even a leak as small as 1/32 of an inch opening can waste approximately 6,000 gallons of water per month.  A continuous drip from a faucet wastes about 20 gallons of water per day.  Toilet leaks are usually silent but waste up to 200 gallons of water each day. Homeowners can check their water meter when WATER IS NOT BEING USED to help determine if a leak is the culprit.  If the needle moves without the water on, guess what, you probably have a leak.  This is not only wasteful, but EXPENSIVE,  since you are charged on water usage passing through the meter.  Better water conservation can help prevent unwanted pollution to water, save on cost, and most importantly, help to conserve a necessary resource that is limited and is being consumed more and more as growth occurs.  Some parts of our country already are reaching critical levels of potable water. Some suggestions:  1.  Run the dishwasher and laundry machines at full load, use the shortest wash and rinse times that are practicle, the permanent press cycle uses 10-20 more gallons  2.  When hand washing dishes, do not let the water run continuously  3. Avoid using the garbage disposal when possible  3.  When buying new water using appliances, purchase water savers where practicle  4.  Take shorter showers, change over to a 1.6 gallon water flush toilet when you replace your toilet  5.  When shaving, brushing your teeth, etc.,don't let the water run continuously  6.  Water the lawn only when necessary  7.  Top off swimming pools, check for leaks, check pumps and hoses for leaks  7.  Conserve water when washing cars, use high pressure low volume water hoses, don't overrinse, and don't allow dirt, mud, etc., to drain off directly into ditches

"Don't over fertilize your lawn, Pick up trash and debris from ditches, properly dispose of trash/debris--STOP THE LITTERING-Keep a litter bag in your vehicle and USE IT!  If you walk your pet, clean up the mess and put in a bag that you take with you, IF YOUR CAR has oil or anti-freeze leaks, get it fixed" 

LEAVES, A BIG DRAINAGE HEADACHE

 One of the biggest drainage problems we have is that we as homeowners DO NOT get the leaves cleaned up out of our ditches which causes all kinds of drainage problems, culverts get clogged, ditches overflow, street shoulders get undercut, other trash and debris flood out into the streets, gravel out of driveways gets washed out, and general flooding results.  Some try to put some type of screen over the ends of their culverts thinking this will help keep trash, leaves from stopping up the culvert.  The truth is that the leaves then mat against this and the result is, INSTEAD OF CLOGGING UP THE CULVERT, THE END IS STOPPED, WATER BACKS UP AND DITCHES OVERFLOW.  Don't place these over the end of culverts.  The town has purchased a "JETTER", which will be able to open up clogged culverts, drains, etc. with high pressure water.  We are currently reviewing ways we can better mitigate this problem and if you have an idea, let me know.

Much like the famous slogan, "ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES", ONLY YOU CAN HELP IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY TO REDUCE WATER POLLUTION"