Storm Water and Wastewater Education

Storm Water Education

Springville City is concerned about educating all people about storm water. As a result we have initiated a public education program through the Utah County Storm Water Coalition that we take into fourth grade classrooms in elementary schools; we also set booths and distribute educational materials at our county fairs and the Art City Days festival.

We have developed a 30-minute presentation that includes a hands-on model that shows what happens when it rains. This presentation covers the following concepts:

What is a watershed?
Water pollution
What happens to the water when it rains
Non-point source pollution vs. point source pollution
Proper disposal of household hazardous waste
Other issues about protection of drinking water/ground water

Call Juan Garrido at (801) 420-1272 or email to schedule a presentation.

Educational Sheets

Wastewater (Sewer)

We often don’t realize the harm we are doing by what we rinse down our kitchen sinks, bath and shower drains, and even what we flush down our toilets. To keep your drains and clean, we have provided a list of what not to flush or send down the drain.

Please remember that the sewer is not a garbage can — what goes into the sewer through toilets, sinks or storm drains can end up in our rivers and lakes.

Please Do NOT put items such as these down the drain:

Baby wipes
Cigarette butts
Condoms
Cosmetics/makeup
Cotton swabs
Dental floss
Disposable diapers
Food scraps (better yet compost them or dig them into your garden)
Flushable cat litter
Flushable wipes
Human and pet hair
Oils — vegetable and animal grease, fats, oils (they can clog the sewer in your home and the City system, and cause sewer backup)
Prescriptions and medications (the police department has a drop off bin)
Rags
Sanitary napkins
Tampons and tampon applicator

Garbage Disposals

Garbage disposals are a great invention, but too many of us assume they will grind solid foods into liquid and easily flow down the drain pipes. When you do this, you put the sewer in your home and the city system at risk of backing up. Make it a habit to scrape plates and peel vegetables into the garbage can, not the sink.

Fats and Oils

Vegetable and animal grease, fats and oils should also go in the garbage can – not the sewer. Even if you rinse with hot water, the grease, fats, and oils will eventually cool and solidify and potentially plug up your system. Make it a habit to pour grease, fats, and oils in an old tin can or cup, and once solidified, put it in the garbage can.

Chemicals

Chemicals do not belong in the garbage or the sewer – they need special handling.

Do not dump chemicals down the drain! Our wastewater treatment plant will not be able to remove them; they can end of up in the river, harming fish and other aquatic life. Dumping chemicals down the drain may also damage the sewer in your home and the city system.

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