Departments - The City of Saint Charles

Recent News Articles

   · Keep Our Waters Clean
   · Do's and Don'ts
   · The Impact of Rain and Snow on Storm Water
   · Yard Waste

Lateral Insurance
The Lateral Sewer Insurance Program began on January 1, 2003. St. Charles homeowners have the benefit of an "insurance policy" on lateral sewers to their homes. If claims are approved, the City will pay 80% of the cost of repairs to lateral sewers, up to $5000 per property; the homeowner will pay 20%. The cost of sewer repairs varies depending on the extent of work needed.
For detailed information, please see Lateral Policy.
For an application form, please see Lateral Application.

Wastewater Treatment Facilities
EMC provides management, operation and maintenance expertise for the day-to-day operation and long-term capital asset management of the City of St. Charles Wastewater treatment Facilities.

The facilities include:

Mississippi River Facility 7.5 million gallons per day

Missouri River Facility 5.0 million gallons per day

Boschertown Lagoon System 0.3 million gallons per day

12 lift stations

Additional service includes providing oversight of the City’s Industrial Pretreatment Program.

Staff responsibilities include efficient quality control, regulatory compliance and reporting, staffing, safety performance, management of operation and maintenance activities, solids handling and disposal through the biosolids land application program and industrial discharge monitoring.

Recycling

The following locations will recycle your used motor oil at no charge:

AutoZone 1813 First Capitol 723-8604

Walmart 2897 I-70 South Service Road 940-7611

Advance Auto Parts 2231 First Capitol 946-0570

RV Waste
The closest site to St. Charles that accepts RV waste is Rec Tech, Inc, 5933 Byassee Drive, St. Louis, MO Phone 314/731-9080. Rec Tech is located near Lindbergh and McDonnell Blvd, about a mile north of Lambert Field.

Click here to view Project Reports - (Report requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to open)

Keep Our Waters Clean
(Published in the Summer, 2005 Issue of St. Charles City Newsletter)

How do pollutants travel from the source to the streams? RAIN. As stormwater flows over driveways, lawns, and sidewalks, it picks up debris, chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants which end up in the local streams. By practicing healthy household habits, everyone can help keep common pollutants like pesticides, pet waste, grass clippings, and automotive fluids off the ground, out of stormwater and out of our lakes and streams. Use the following suggestions to help keep our waters clean:
—Use a commercial car wash or wash your car on a lawn to minimize the amount of dirty, soapy water flowing into the storm drain.
—Check your car, boat, motorcycle, and other machinery and equipment for leaks and make repairs as soon as possible. Clean up spilled fluids with an absorbent material like kitty litter or sand, and don't rinse the spills into a nearby storm drain. Remember to properly dispose of the absorbent material.
—Recycle used oil and other automotive fluids at participating service stations. Several locations are listed on the City's website. http://www.stcharlescity.com//recycling.
—Select native plants and grasses that are drought- and pest resistant.
—Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly. Avoid application if the forecast calls for rain.
—Sweep up debris, rather than hosing down areas. Compost or recycle yard waste when possible.
—Don't overwater your lawn. Water during the cool times of the day, and don't let water run off into the storm drain.

Do you create a large amount of yard waste?
(Published in the Spring Issue, 2005 of St. Charles City Newsletter)

Tree and shrub trimming and the start of grass cutting creates large amounts of yard waste. Where properties back to a creek, this material is frequently dumped or placed on the creekbanks. Whether this is for disposal, or a misguided attempt to help control erosion, this practice is bad for the creek and bad for the stability of the creekbank.

Placing cuttings on the creekbank will suffocate the natural vegetation which helps hold the bank. By inadvertently killing the plants with the clippings, erosion of the banks is actually accelerated. Grass clipping and other organic material that find their way into the stream will provide excess nutrients and promote algae growth which depletes oxygen in the streams.

Another source of excess nutrients is the fertilizer used on our lawns. Apply fertilizers sparingly and never apply at a higher than recommended rate. If we are to have healthy streams and riparian environments in the City, it is essential that yard waste be properly handled and recycled.

As always recycling is a great way to prevent pollution and unnecessary waste of space in our landfills. St Charles County has a new recycling center at 60 Triad South Drive. This facility accepts computers, cell phones and other electronic gear. A $5.00 fee is charged for small special items and $15.00 is charged for large appliances. This facility does not accept many items commonly picked curbside.

Do's and Don'ts - Useful Tips for Pollution Prevention
(Published in the Winter Issue, 2004 of St. Charles City Newsletter)
þ Do keep sidewalks, curb and gutters fronting your property clean by sweeping up debris and disposing of it in the trash, prior to hosing with plain water.
þ Don't wash debris from the sidewalks and curbs into the storm drain.
þ Do sweep excess dirt and sediment from landscaping into grassed or landscaped areas. Control runoff in flower beds by mulching or planting ground cover.
þ Don't wash excess dirt into the gutter; it will flow into the storm drain.
þ Do gather grass and tree cuttings and dispose as green waste or compost your yard trimmings in a composting container.
þ Don't wash grass into the storm drain or place in piles along the creekbanks.
þ Do recycle motor oil. Many retail stores will accept and recycle your waste oil with no charge.
þ Don't pour oil on the ground or in the storm drain or use it to control weed growth.
þ Do use pesticides and fertilizers only as directed in the instructions.
þ Don't apply at a higher rate than recommended by the manufacturer, the excess can be transported to nearby creeks.
þ Do apply de-icing chemicals sparingly, use only enough as necessary for safety.
þ Don't use heavily in anticipation of more snow or ice, excess chemicals can be transported to creeks.

Utilize the new St Charles County recycling center at 60 Triad South Drive. This facility accepts computers, cell phones and other electronic gear. A $5.00 fee is charged for small special items and $15.00 is charged for large appliances. This facility will soon accept paint and household cleaners also.

The Impact of Rain and Snow on Storm Water
(Published in the Fall Issue,
2004 of St. Charles City Newsletter)

Stormwater-rain and snow melt that runs over the ground, picking up sediments and other pollutants along the way-can significantly impact streams and lakes. In forests, fields, and other undeveloped areas, vegetation and natural contours slow stormwater and allow it to infiltrate into the ground. The vegetation also filters sediments and other pollutants before surface runoff reaches the nearest wetland or water body. Development disrupts this natural stormwater control when forest and field is replaced by rooftops, roads, and other impervious surfaces that prevent infiltration. Lawns also contribute to stormwater pollution. These graded and mowed surfaces increase surface runoff, particularly when the soil beneath them becomes compacted-and this runoff is typically contaminated with fertilizers and pesticides used to keep the lawn green.

Maintaining strips of natural vegetation along wetlands and waterways is one of the best ways to reduce stormwater impacts. In areas where the natural vegetation has already been replaced by lawn, growing strips of trees, shrubs, and/or tall grasses (particularly native species) can generate significant environmental benefits. These vegetated buffers effectively mimic natural systems, slowing down surface runoff, capturing stormwater to improve infiltration, and filtering contaminants.

In addition to protecting surface waters, vegetated buffers improve groundwater supplies by promoting recharge and filtering contaminants. Native plants also benefit wildlife by providing food and habitat and shading rivers and streams, which helps to maintain water temperatures at appropriate levels. Because land use throughout the entire watershed affects water quality, the benefits of planting native vegetation extend beyond the wetland border. Consequently, transforming lawn to native vegetation anywhere on your property is a great way to help the environment.
The following links include excellent information on vegetated buffers.

For a detailed fact sheet click here for webpage on how to design an effective buffer, including information on appropriate buffer widths.
Click here for EPA information on lawn reduction and environmentally friendly maintenance practices.

Public Works