Public Services
Storm Water
Water is our single most precious natural resource, and it is the responsibility of each citizen to help protect that resource. Our City’s storm water drainage system is a pathway for every drop of water to find its way in to our natural streams, rivers and lakes. These resources should be conserved; therefore, we must think about how to protect our storm water system from pollution. With this in mind, it is up to City residents to consider every action taken that will have an affect on our water.
  • Stormwater is water released from clouds in the form of rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow, or hail that flows over land or impervious (waterproof) surfaces such as roadways, rooftops, parking lots, etc.
  • Stormwater runoff is rainfall that flows over land surface and into impervious areas such as paved streets, roads, driveways, parking lots, building rooftops, and other paved surfaces that do not allow water to soak into the ground. Because of this, water "runs off" into the City's stormwater drainage system and into neighboring wetlands, streams and rivers. 
    Stormwater runs off streets, lawns, farms, as well as construction and industrial sites, where it picks up fertilizers, dirt, sediment, pesticides, oil & grease and many other pollutants on the way to local waterways. Unlike pollution from industry or sewage treatment facilities, which is caused by a discrete number of sources, stormwater pollution is caused by the daily activities of people everywhere. 
    Stormwater discharges are a significant contributor to local water quality impairments, possibly preventing recreational use or damging habitat for fish, other aquatic organisms and wildlife.
    The pollution you prevent today will protect your drinking water supply tomorrow.
  • Stormwater management involves the control of stormwater runoff. This process includes changing land use practices and regulating development in order to maintain the quality, quantity and rate of stormwater runoff. 

    Stormwater management also incorporates preventing runoff at the source by minimizing the amount of hard surfaces; providing areas to detain water and slow its progress toward the streams; amending soils in order to absorb more water; constructing filtration areas with vegetation to filter water as it moves across the land; and practicing good housekeeping both day-to-day and on construction sites in order to prevent sediment and other pollutants from washing into streams. 

    ONLY RAIN DOWN OUR STORM DRAINS.
  • In areas that do not have man-made impermeable surfaces, precipitation normally takes a long time to reach a stream. A small amount of water falls on the stream surface, but most of the water reaches the stream only after it has soaked into the ground and moved through the soils.
    When impermeable surfaces are added to a watershed, the water reaches the stream very quickly and in much larger quantities than the stream is used to handling. In addition, urban areas (more developed areas) are normally serviced by a system of pipes and catch basins which are designed to get water off the land as quickly as possible and convey it to the stream. This excessive volume of water can be more than the channel can handle and flooding, as well as erosion of the channel results. When the channel erosion occurs, it causes cloudy (turbid) water that negatively affects the organisms in the stream and the downstream users of the water, in addition to destroying habitat. It is, therefore, important to prevent runoff at the source wherever possible. 

  • Stormwater Pollution Prevention 

    Did you know that our daily activities can have an impact on water quality, especially when it rains? Check out the video on this page, provided by Georgia DOT's Stormwater Management Program, for more information. Let's work together to ensure the health of our natural waters!

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    Stormwater Pollution Solutions 

    • 10 Simple Things You Can Do to Be Part of the "Solution to Stormwater Pollution" 

      1. Never dump anything onto the street, down a storm drain, or into a drainage ditch.
      2. Pick up after your pet. Bag it and place into the trash.
      3. Compost or bag your yard clippings for curbside collection.
      4. Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly. (Read the label)
      5. Put litter in its place.
      6. Keep your septic system maintained to prevent leaks.
      7. Check your vehicles for leaks and repair them as soon as possible.
      8. Always recycle your motor oil and other vehicle fluids.
      9. Wash your vehicle over a grassy area or at a commercial car wash that recycles water, not on your driveway.
      10. Tell a friend or neighbor about how they can help prevent stormwater pollution.

    • Green Infrastructure 

      Green infrastructure is a cost-effective, resilient approach to managing wet weather impacts that provides many community benefits. While single-purpose gray stormwater infrastructure—conventional piped drainage and water treatment systems—is designed to move urban stormwater away from the built environment, green infrastructure reduces and treats stormwater at its source while delivering environmental, social, and economic benefits.

      To learn more about Green Infrastructure, visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure. 

    • EPA Factsheet

      Click here to view the EPA Stormwater Pollution Solutions Factsheet. 

  • Port Wentworth Stormwater Management Program 

    The City of Port Wentworth has developed a Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) as required by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division (EPD).  This Plan provides a comprehensive framework for inspecting and maintaining City stormwater infrastructure and how the City will address water quality issues, enforce stormwater requirements, and educate the public about important stormwater best management practices (BMPs).

    The City recently revised its SWMP to meet new State requirements and a draft copy of this Plan can be viewed here. Each year, the City also submits an Annual Report to the Georgia EPD that summarizes the City’s Stormwater Management Program.  Once the City submits its 2017-2018 Annual Report to the Georgia EPD, a copy of the Report will be available for citizens to review as well.

    If you have questions about the City’s Stormwater Management Program or would like to obtain the appendices referenced in the City’s Stormwater Management Plan, please contact the City’s Public Services Department at 912-966-7427.  If you would like to submit a comment to the City on the BMPs included within the SWMP or the activities summarized in the Annual Report, please send an email to osenatimartinez@cityofportwentworth.com. 

  • How to Report a Stormwater Pollution Issue 

    If you observe someone illegally dumping into a storm drain or ditch, or have other stormwater-related concerns, please contact the City’s Public Services Department at 912-966-7427 or you may report your concern electronically by clicking here.

To report stormwater pollution please call 912-966-7427.

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