Water Resources Information

Water resources are used in various ways including direct consumption, agricultural irrigation, hydropower, industrial production, recreation, navigation, environmental protection, the disposal and treatment of sewage, and industrial effluents. Water has sources and supplies, economic, social and political characteristics which make it a unique and challenging natural resource to manage.

Clean Water Act Amendments

In 1987, amendments were made to the Clean Water Act requiring municipalities to obtain a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency as part of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). This permit, commonly referred to as NPDES Phase II requires municipalities in the size of Batavia to meet specific requirements for storm water discharge. Included under the Storm Water Phase II regulations are municipalities that are located in the urban areas as defined by the Census Bureau. These municipalities are required to obtain NPDES permit coverage of discharges from their municipal separate storm sewer systems.

Causes of Pollution

The City of Batavia sits directly on the Fox River and most of the city's runoff is tributary to the Fox River by means of watersheds and creeks. Therefore it is very important to manage and control how much runoff and what type of runoff leaves each individual location in town. Some causes of storm water pollution are:

  • Animal waste
  • Heavy metals from roof shingles, motor vehicles and other sources
  • Liter
  • Oil, grease and toxic chemicals from motor vehicles that leak onto the pavement
  • Paint
  • Pesticides and nutrients from lawns and gardens
  • Road salts
  • Sediment carried by flowing water
  • Thermal pollution from dark impervious surfaces such as streets and rooftops
  • Viruses, bacteria, and nutrients from pet waste and failing septic systems

Stormwater Education

How You Can Help

To protect our valuable resource we can do some of the following to help reduce and/or eliminate storm water pollution in and around Batavia:

  • Check your vehicles for leaks and fix them as soon as possible.
  • Keep liter, pet wastes, leaves and debris out of the street gutters and storm drains and dispose of properly. These outlets flow directly to creeks, streams, detention basins and the Fox River.
  • Properly dispose of oils, greases, toxic chemicals and paint. Kane County holds Hazardous Waste Collection days once a month at various locations in the county.
  • Reduce runoff by transforming traditionally impervious surfaces with more porous materials, native vegetation and mulch.
  • Use household detergents and cleaners that are low in phosphorous to reduce the amount of nutrients discharged into creeks, streams, detention basins and the Fox River. Excessive nutrient levels are extremely harmful to aquatic ecosystems.
  • When fertilizing use chemicals sparingly and sweep up driveways, sidewalks, and roads to remove excess before they are carried to the nearest storm sewer or receiving water body.