Kalamazoo Stormwater Working Group

The Kalamazoo Stormwater Working Group (KSWG) is a collaborative effort of outreach and education for our interconnected Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (or MS4s) in the Kalamazoo County area.

Rain falls and snow melts across hard and impervious surfaces that do not allow water to soak into the ground. The water flows to storm sewers or catch basins which direct it to a natural surface water body such as a wetland, river, pond or lake. Stormwater runoff carries salts, grass clippings, sediment, fertilizer, oils, pet waste, and other material left on driveways and sidewalks into the catch basins, and unfortunately, they eventually drain to our natural water bodies.



KSWG partners work together to protect against harmful discharges to the Kalamazoo River and its tributaries.

Where does stormwater come from and what pollutes it?

Rain falls and snow melts across hard and impervious surfaces that do not allow water to soak into the ground. The water flows to storm sewers or catch basins which direct it to a natural water body such as a wetland, river, pond or lake. Stormwater carries salts, grass clippings, sediment, fertilizer, oils, pet waste, and other material left on driveways and sidewalks into the catch basins. 

Stormwater is different from the greywater from toilets and sinks which is taken to a treatment plant before discharging into our natural water bodies. 

Fecal coliform bacteria is a serious concern. People commonly hear about a strain of bacteria called E. coli because it is an indicator of the presence of disease-causing bacteria. E. coli inhabits the digestive system of humans and animals but can also be found in sewage. Unfortunately, every so often, sanitary sewers have been incorrectly connected to storm drains, which then cause sewage to enter our waterways. During major storms, leaks and cracks occur that allow stormwater to flow into our sanitary sewer system that overwhelms the treatment plan causing sewage overflows. Correcting these problems is time-consuming and expensive, but together, our community works actively to restore them. 

Keeping roads, sidewalks, and driveways safe in winter is important—but using too much salt can harm our rivers, lakes, and drinking water. ​

Mr. Kindleberger and a committee of citizens planned the riverfront community of Parchment, a model village carved out of the northern part of Kalamazoo Township.

The City of Galesburg adjoins the Kalamazoo River and Morrow Lake and is a mid-sized city between Detroit and Chicago.

Vicksburg is the Village with a Vision. The Village of Vicksburg is committed to ensuring that stormwater runoff from its roadways and facilities complies with all federal and state environmental regulatory requirements.

"Re-think Smart." It's more than book smarts. More important than IQ. It's the pursuit of purpose, daring to think differently, and not being afraid to question answers. We call it Rethink Smart.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) is a public community college in Kalamazoo established in 1966 and enrolls about 10,000 students. KVCC is committed to preserving our local waterways in our downtown campus with green infrastructure and at the Texas Township campus adjoining the West fork of the Portage Creek.

The goal of the Board of County Road Commissioners of the County of Kalamazoo is using our expertise, energy and funds to provide the safest and most convenient road system possible, and to contribute to economic development and high quality of life throughout the county.

Our Mission is to provide for the health, safety and welfare of Kalamazoo County citizens, the protection of surface waters and the environment, and to promote the long-term environmental sustainability of Kalamazoo County by providing storm water management, flood control, soil erosion controls and education.

To the City of Portage, protecting its natural treasures is an investment in the health, growth and stability of the community without being a burden on city resources. The city continuously engages its citizens to address current challenges and develop a future vision for our community - and ultimately ensure the city remains A Natural Place to Move.

The City's Michigan National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit allows for the non-point source discharges of stormwater to the local surface water bodies. Our goals seek to improve water quality, provide more efficient development guidelines, and to provide controls to minimize localized flooding.

The Kalamazoo River Watershed Council's mission and vision come from a desire to protect, preserve, and promote the Kalamazoo River and its tributaries for current area residents and future generations. To restore and protect the health of the Kalamazoo River, its tributaries, and its watershed by collaborating with the community, government agencies, local officials, and businesses.

At Kalamazoo Public Schools (KPS) it is our mission to nurture the dreams of all students and empower all students to contribute to a better world. KPS is a vibrant, progressive district and home to "The Kalamazoo Promise", a unique scholarship that provides up to 100 percent, post-secondary tuition and fee assistance.

El Grupo de trabajo de aguas pluviales de Kalamazoo (KSWG) es un esfuerzo colaborativo de divulgación y educación para nuestros sistemas de alcantarillado pluvial separados municipales interconectados (o MS4) en el área del condado de Kalamazoo. La lluvia cae y la nieve se derrite sobre superficies duras e impermeables que no permiten que el agua penetre en el suelo. El agua fluye hacia las desagües pluviales que la dirigen a un cuerpo de agua superficial natural, como un humedal, un río, un estanque o un lago. La escorrentía de aguas pluviales transporta sales, recortes de césped, sedimentos, fertilizantes, aceites, desechos de mascotas y otros materiales que quedan en los caminos de entrada y las aceras hacia los desagües pluviales  y, desafortunadamente, eventualmente se drena en nuestros cuerpos de agua natural. Los socios de KSWG trabajan juntos para proteger el río Kalamazoo y sus afluentes de descargas dañinas.