Public Works

Stormwater

What is Stormwater?

When it rains or as snow melts the water needs to go somewhere. Some soaks into the ground, some evaporates, and the rest flows over land into creeks, ponds, wetlands and eventually into rivers and lakes. In urban areas, rain can not soak into the ground because of concrete, asphalt, building rooftops, etc. and it will pick up and carry pollutants such as oil, gas, lawn fertilizers, and trash, downstream to our rivers and lakes. In rural areas, chemical fertilizers and manure can be carried by rain water into drainage ditches that eventually make it to our lakes.

The Fitchburg Stormwater Utility was created to control pollutants and dirt (suspended soilds) by a series of detention ponds, drainage swales, rain gardens, and street sweeping. In addition we require best management practices on construction sites to minimize the amount of sediment that gets carried off by rain fall. We also offer educational and outreach services to let the public know what they can do to help keep our waterways clean. To learn more about Fitchburg's stormwater management program click here: Fitchburg Stormwater Basics

Fitchburg is a member of the the Madison Area Municipal Storm Water Partnership (MAMSWaP). For more information on how to keep our lakes clean please go to:

Erosion Control & Stormwater Management (ECSWM) Requirements

This page has information on the construction site permitting process, and city ordinances related to the stormwater utility.

Financing

In April 2002, the City began funding it's stormwater management program with a stormwater utility where the property's charge is based on the impervious area of the property. Chapter 35 of the General Code of Ordinances establishes the stormwater utility in the City.