Stormwater Pollution

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Awareness & Responsibility
Daily activities can impact water quality. Most rainfall drains untreated to streams and lakes through storm drains in neighborhoods. 

What You Can Do
Ways you can prevent stormwater pollution: 

  • Wash your car at a carwash or on the lawn, not the driveway
  • Re-direct roof drains to gardens or other vegetated areas
  • Properly dispose of all hazardous household waste
  • Minimize use of fertilizers
  • Clean up after your pets

What Not to Do
Remember: only rain down the drain! Never use a storm drain to dispose of grass clippings, chemicals, pet waste, or other pollutants.

Managing Pollutants From Construction Sites
The City works with local builders to prevent sediment from entering our creeks and rivers. Sediment-laden water can impact our streams by destroying fish and macro-invertebrate habitat and reducing the amount of dissolved oxygen needed for fish to survive. Residents have the right to enjoy clean streams and rivers.

Requirements & Stormwater Inspection Process
The City takes these steps to ensure that sediment stays on construction sites and doesn’t enter our waterbodies:

  • Permits: Construction sites owners and managers are required to get a Construction Site Runoff (CSR) Permit from the City and a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Permit from the State of Iowa.
  • Plan: Construction site owners and managers must provide the City with a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) showing how they will ensure that sediment stays on the construction site.
  • Responsibility: Construction site owners and managers are required to keep all sediment on their construction sites.
  • Inspections:The City is required to conduct quarterly or complaint-based inspection on all construction sites within the City limits.

Report a Stormwater Concern
If you see something that you think may be wrong or may negatively affect our streams or rivers, please contact us. We rely on engagement from our residents to help us protect our local water resources.  

If you see a stormwater concern, report it at any of the following:

  • Call the Coralville Engineering Department at 319.248.1720 (Monday-Friday, 7:30 am-5:00 pm, excluding holidays).
  • Email Stormwater Coordinator Amy Foster. Please include your name, address, telephone number, and location of the problem. 
  • Online at www.coralville.org/letusknow (for non-emergency issues only; anonymous reports are accepted).
  • To report an after-hours emergency, call the Environmental Emergency Hotline at 563.320.1742.

Report an Environmental Emergency
To report a fuel leak, erosion concern, illegal dumping, or another environmental emergency, contact us. How to report an environmental emergency

Learn More
For more information, view the Environmental Protection Agency website or the Iowa Stormwater Education Partnership website.