CITY OF MANSFIELD STORM WATER MANAGEMENT
LITTERING
Don't mess with Texas... Storm Water!
Litter has long been a problem in Texas. The Texas Department of Transportation came up with the "Don't Mess With Texas" campaign some years ago, but litter continues to be a problem.
Driving down roads in the City, it is clear that littering is a problem in Mansfield as well. Carelessly discarded items eventually end up being washed into our local waterways. Often times, these items are washed into our storm drain system along the way, resulting in backups and local flooding.
Storm drains are designed to carry specific amounts of water. Filling, or blocking caused by litter, reduces the amount of water from what was designed, and can lead to flooding upstream. This results in property damage, higher maintenance costs, and creating safety hazards.
Plastic bags are one of the most prolific pollutants. Their lightweight means they can be blown and washed away quickly. Their flexibility allows them to attach to other items. When large numbers of bags and other items like tree limbs, posts, and other long objects mix dams are often created. Again, this results in localized flooding, higher maintenance costs and safety hazards.
Many products that are thrown from vehicles, or otherwise carelessly released into our roads and creeks contain substances, or breakdown into substances, that are hazardous to our health or the environment.
Stop Illegal Dumping
Illegal dumping is a problem within the North Central Texas area. Many items left on roadsides by illegal dumpers pose a direct threat to our health.
Toxic metals that leak out of appliances, coolants from refrigerators and air conditioners, pieces of metal that break off from furniture, and broken glass are only a few of the potential hazards that can enter our streams, creeks and lakes and pose a threat to our health and safety as well as the health of our environment.
The actions of illegal dumpers put the health and safety of others at risk. In addition to the risks, it can cost several thousand dollars, or more, to clean up an illegal dumpsite. These dumpsites also provide excellent habitat for snakes, mosquitoes, rats and other pests.
Illegal dumpsites are absolutely preventable. There are places to take these items to dispose of them in a responsible manner with very little chance of harm to the health and safety of others.
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