Illegal dumping
Have you ever walked along the street and seen a storm sewer inlet marked, “No Dumping, Drains to Stream?” Those warnings tell you that where you are is directly connected to a body of water that needs your protection.

Lenexa’s storm sewer system is a complex series of inlets and pipes that eventually drains to ponds, lakes, streams and rivers. The gutters on your street are not treated for pollution, so it’s vital to make sure only rain goes down the drain!

The Federal Clean Water Act requires municipalities in urban areas to control pollution into the storm sewer system. In 2006, the City of Lenexa adopted Article 4-5-J, Illicit Discharges to Storm Sewers and Surface Waters.

This ordinance specifically prohibits the discharge or dumping of pollutants into the city’s storm drain system. Restrictions and regulations within the ordinance are intended to protect the health and safety of residents, preserve the economic and ecological value of existing water resources and to comply with the city’s NPDES permit.

Prohibited pollutants include: • trash • yard wastes • lawn chemicals • pet waste • wastewater • petroleum products • cleaning products • paint products • hazardous waste • sediment from exposed ground

What should I do if I see someone dumping into a drain?
If you notice a strange substance flowing into a storm drain inlet or see someone pouring something into a storm sewer, please call the Municipal Services Department at (913) 477-7680 to report the location. Other common signs of pollutants are strange odors, colors in the water or sheen on its surface.

Illegal dumping of trash, chemicals, yard waste and other substances into storm drains is against the law. The act is punishable under state and federal law as a violation of the Clean Water Act. In addition, the act is a violation of Lenexa’s municipal codes and ordinances that prohibit dumping of garbage and wastes onto roadways or into the storm drain system.

How trash and leaves affect storm drains
No matter where you live, there's a drainage system in place to help stormwater find its way to the river. Storm drains, ditches and culverts all are prone to blockage, and leaves and trash are the prime culprits.

Leaves and trash in the storm sewer system can: • Alter drainage patterns by blocking flows and pipes, which can cause street flooding. • Add stress to our aging system of corrugated metal pipe. The eastern portion of Lenexa has pipe that is near or at the end of its lifespan. • Pollute and damages our streams and waterbodies. • Cause downstream properties to flood. • Increase stormwater utility fees as Lenexa’s watershed maintenance crews handle blockages, flooding and pollution.

Need more information?
Additional information can be found in Lenexa’s Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) program plan.

Report illegal dumping to Rob Beilfuss, water quality specialist, at (913) 477-7666 (office) or (913) 238-1396 (cell). If city staff are not available, illicit discharges should be reported to the Johnson County Environmental Department 24-Hour Response Service at (913) 715-6900 or reported online.