Mission Statement

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.

    Select a Partner:
    Check below to see info!

    Parchment

    Galesburg

    Vicksburg

    WMU

    KVCC

    Road Commission of Kalamazoo

    Kalamazoo County Drain Commissioners Office

    City of Portage

    City of Kalamazoo

    Kalamazoo River Watershed Council

    Kalamazoo Public Schools


    This project has been funded wholly or in part by a grant through the Watershed Council Support Program by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's Nonpoint Source Program to Kalamazoo Stormwater Working Group for the Multilingual Outreach and Education project. The contents of the document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

    Este proyecto ha sido financiado en su totalidad o en parte por una subvención a través del Programa de Apoyo del Consejo de Cuencas Hidrográficas del Departamento de Medio Ambiente, Grandes Lagos y Energía de Michigan, Programa de Fuentes No Puntuales para el Grupo de Trabajo de Aguas Pluviales de Kalamazoo para el proyecto de Educación y Alcance Multilingüe. El contenido del documento no refleja necesariamente los puntos de vista y las políticas del Departamento de Medio Ambiente, Grandes Lagos y Energía, ni la mención de nombres comerciales o productos comerciales constituye respaldo o recomendación para su uso.

    How do pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers affect the environment?

    Improper application of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers may have an impact on storm water infiltration into groundwater. When these contaminants dissolve in storm water they find their way into the groundwater and then into surface waters, such as ponds, streams, rivers, and lakes.

    Excessive use of fertilizers can lead to eutrophication; eutrophication is excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen.

    What are the impacts of eutrophication on the environment?

    The impact of eutrophication on the environment and the economy is concerning. When algal blooms form, less sunlight can penetrate the water surface, which results in decreased productivity of underwater plants and depleted oxygen reserves. The lack of oxygen has devastating effects on aquatic life, including fish such as trout and salmon. In addition, some algae produce toxins in the water, further damaging the aquatic ecosystem.

    Economically, operating expenses of public water works increase because of taste and odor issues caused by algal bloom. Fish death and navigational impediments can impact severely the economies of regions dependent on fishing as a source of revenue. Similarly, recreational areas lose business because of slime and weed infestation around lakes and streams.

    What Is a Pesticide?

    A pesticide is a substance (either a chemical or biological agent) that is intended to control pests, or used to protect plants and crops, pesticides can include the following:

    • Herbicide
    • Insecticide
    • Nematicide
    • Molluscicide
    • Piscicide
    • Avicide
    • Rodenticide
    • Bactericide
    • Insect repellent
    • Animal repellent
    • Antimicrobial
    • Fungicide
    • Bioswales
    • Native Plantings
    • Permeable pavement
    • Raingardens

    Sometimes, the aim of the pesticide is to kill or incapacitate the pest. In other cases, it serves as a repellent. In either case, the goal is to prevent or reduce damage to plants and crops and protect the gardener or farmer's income

    What should you do when using pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers?

    How does pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers affect human health?

    Increased and incorrect fertilizer use can also result in public health risks. Fertilizers contain heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium that can cause serious health problems. Arsenic and lead are believed to cause cancer, and mercury can result in developmental problems. Mercury, lead, and cadmium are slow to break down in soil and thus result in prolonged exposure, making even low levels of these elements hazardous and increasing risk of birth defects, cancer, and reproductive problems.

    Some Guidelines to follow when using pesticides and herbicides include:

    • Always wear appropriate protective clothing.
    • Never wash contaminated clothing with other clothing.
    • Take precautions to prevent spills. For example, close containers tightly after each use, even if you plan to re-open them soon.
    • Store pesticides in their original containers. Never place them in food or beverage containers.
    • Avoid storing pesticides in extreme temperatures. Pesticides should be stored on the property at temperatures between 40-90 °F.
    • Know what nutrient levels a particular plant needs, as well as the current nutrient levels in your soil.
    • Whenever possible, plant native and adapted plants in your garden because their water and fertilizer demands will be less than non-native plant species.
    • Add groundcover plants to your garden to help absorb any extra nitrogen in the soil and to prevent leaching.
    • Always follow the application rates specified on the product labeling.

    What should the half-life of pesticides be?

    The half-life should be printed on the product label. Avoid pesticides with half-lives longer than 21 days. In dealing with pesticides and herbicides at home or on the job, develop a plan for use and safety. At work, only certified applicators may use pesticides and herbicides.

    Where can I dispose of my pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers?
    ¿Dónde puedo desechar mis pesticidas, herbicidas y fertilizantes?

    Leftover pesticides and herbicides used in residential settings may be disposed of at your local county hazardous waste collection sites (view our recycling page for a list of some local county's webpages).

    The Kalamazoo County Health and Hazardous Waste Center
    is located at 1301 Lamont Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49048

    Their hours can be found in the link below.

    HHW

    View in English Ver en espanol

    City of Parchment

    THE PAPER CITY

    The City of Parchment has a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). They are committed to protecting our lakes, waterways and wetlands by ensuring that stormwater runoff from its roadways and facilities complies with all required federal and state environmental regulations.

    Estado de la Misión

    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 alcantarillas pluviales o sumideros 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 sumideros 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.

    * FUN FACTS *

    Fact: There are different types of pesticides for getting rid of different pests.