Spilling, dumping, or discharging chemicals, dirt, debris, oil or other non-stormwater substances into ditches, creeks, streams, curb drains, storm drains, or the river is a violation of federal, state, and local regulations. Allowing sediment or chemicals to wash off a construction site is also a violation. If you have witnessed an act that you feel is a violation of clean water regulations, anywhere within the county, please report the activity to the Ellis County Engineering Department.
You can help your community by identifying and reporting potential sources of stormwater pollution. To report stormwater pollution in your area, call the Stormwater Hotline at 972-825-5304 and leave a detailed message with your contact information or send an email to email@example.com.
Storm Water Education and Pollution Prevention
Welcome to the Ellis County Engineer's Storm Water Education and Pollution Prevention page. Ellis County is dedicated to helping our citizens understand the importance of preventing water pollution.
What exactly is storm water? From a watershed (anywhere there are land features, such as, soil rock and vegetation), storm water is any unfiltered water runoff that reaches creeks, streams, lakes, estuaries, and oceans by flowing across impervious surfaces, such as, roads, parking lots, driveways, roof tops and solid land features.
During these flow events, storm water picks up toxic pesticides, detergents, fertilizers, metals and sediment that may ultimately contaminate water sources. When this happens, all life forms, including humans are affected, reducing a healthy, productive quality of life.
As a citizen and a community, we all have the ability and responsibility to help protect our valuable water resources, as well as, all wildlife which depends on these healthy habitable environments to sustain life.
YOU can help prevent storm water runoff from being polluted by taking these following steps:
- Disposal of Household Chemicals
- Lawns and Landscaping
- Car Care
- Recycle Computers or download the Plug Into Computer Recycling Flyer
Visit any of the following agencies or organization's websites to get started! Remember to use the keywords storm water in your searches.
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
- North Central Texas Council of Governments
- Texas AgriLife Extension Service
Consider becoming a Certified Watershed Steward (“anyone willing to learn and a desire to improve and protect community water resources”) or starting a storm water support group (“includes landowners, agricultural producers, decision makers and/or community leaders”) in your area by visiting the Texas AgriLife Extension Service or Environmental Protection Agency websites.
For More Information on Water Efficient Landscaping and Stormwater Outreach Programs
For information on water efficient landscaping and stormwater outreach programs in the North Central Texas region, please follow the following links: < http://www.txsmartscape.com/; <http://www.nctcog.org/envir/seeclean/stormwater/.
For other stormwater related questions, please contact Ellis County at the following email address: firstname.lastname@example.org. For questions and concerns related to illegal dumping please contact the Ellis County Emergency Management Department at 972-825-5555."