Stormwater

  1. About the Stormwater Department

Yukon is situated in the North Canadian River drainage basin. Most of the drainage from Yukon makes its way into the river via underground pipes, concrete channels, ditches and open creek beds. This system is called a Municipal Separate Storm System or MS4.  There is no filtration in this system.

Importance of Stormwater Control

When it rains, stormwater runoff collects many types of hazardous materials that flow directly into area lakes and streams. Common pollutants include oil and grease from roadways, pesticides from lawns, sediment from construction sites, and carelessly discarded trash, such as cigarette butts, paper wrappers, and plastic bottles. When washed into nearby waterways through the MS4 drainage system, these pollutants can impair the waterways, limiting recreational use of the water resource, contaminating drinking water supplies, and interfering with the habitat for fish, other aquatic organisms, and wildlife. Stormwater is called non-point source pollution because it comes from all over the place.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created a program under the Clean Water Act called the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) to regulate the pollutants in the storm water runoff from small cities with MS4s. This program was intended to improve the Nation's waterways by reducing the quantity of pollutants that storm water picks up and carries into storm sewer systems during rain events. The program operates on the assumption that the pollutant load will be less if minimum control measures are put in place.

Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ)

The City of Yukon has a permit from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) to discharge its drainage into the North Canadian River watershed. The ODEQ oversees the NPDES for the State of Oklahoma by permitting and regulating cities within the State. The ODEQ also provides expertise and resources to assist cities with guidance and enforcement when necessary to gain permit compliance.  

Stormwater Management Plan

The City of Yukon’s Stormwater Program was put in place to assist with reducing pollution in the rainwater that leaves our City limits. We have established best management practices under each of the six minimum control measures listed:

  1. Public Education and Public Participation
  2. Industrial Runoff Controls
  3. Construction Site Management
  4. Post-Construction Site Management
  5. Illicit Discharge Elimination
  6. Municipal Good Housekeeping

A hard copy of the Stormwater Management Plan is kept at Development Services. Please contact the Stormwater Program Manager for more information.

Yukon’s Stormwater Program participates in the Central Oklahoma Stormwater Alliance known as COSWA. Through COSWA, we partner with other cities to reach goals that are difficult to reach on our own. We also contract out some of our services such as the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center with partner cities since it is too expensive for one small city to run a Household Hazardous Waste facility on its own. Through COSWA, we are able to do things that reach a larger general audience like creating radio and newspaper ads, hosting training events, etc.

What Citizens Can Do for Clean Water

  • Pick up pet waste
  • Pick up trash in your neighborhood
  • Keep streets and storm drains clean
  • Compost, bag or mulch leaves and grass clippings
  • Learn how to avoid problems with your sewage system
  • Reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers and do not apply them before a rain
  • Reduce the use of non-biodegradable products like Styrofoam and plastics
  • Volunteer for a clean-up event or curb marking activity
  • Do not pour paint, oil, or any other liquids into a storm drain