What’s a Stormwater System Anyway?

Submitted by Director Steve Bennett

Block House Creek streets you’ve no doubt seen those long, open, “slots” between the curb and road. You know—the place where your favorite football disappears, and the stray cat runs into. Those are inlets to the stormwater system. They connect via piping underground and eventually end up in the creek—Block House Creek. The system safely conveys the water away from homes to avoid flooding, ponding, breeding insects and other related issues. The system does NOT handle sanitary sewerage, which is an entirely different system. The stormwater system delivers rainwater, unfortunately, it also transports leaves and grass clippings blown into the street, trash, paint, antifreeze and assorted other pollutants that are carelessly dumped. Keep in mind that all piping in this system drains to Block House Creek.

Residents CAN and SHOULD do better at preventing anything but rainwater from entering the system. Why do better or why should we care? Because no one, whether human or wildlife, likes to stop and gaze into the creek and see waves of trash, plastic bottles or old toys. The additional grasses and leaves we allow in could clog the inlets and can potentially cause our cul-de-sacs to flood. The MUD, in turn, must hire people to clean the storm drains out and spend tax dollars on something which could be prevented. When the additional grasses and leaves make it to the creek and deposit there, it reduces the creeks capacity—that too can possibly cause flooding or ponding.

What can you do to help? You can make a difference by keeping picking up loose trash, collecting leaves and grass clippings and disposing of them properly, and taking hazardous pollutants to certified deposit locations, so the creek doesn’t contain anything that doesn’t belong there.

The MUD is mandated by the State of Texas to monitor, report, clean and clear these waterways. The MUD has been involved behind the scenes for several years clearing waterways for flood control, removing trash, monitoring the waterways and filing reports to satisfy our responsibilities to the state. It requires considerable effort to comply and all actions can make it either harder or easier—Block House Stormwater Management Program. Did you know when the original developer was planning Block House, a study was performed by an archaeologist and it was determined people have been living along Block House Creek for the last 12,000 years. Residents are fortunate to live in a neighborhood steeped in such amazing history. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be the generation that stops the tradition from being available to the next generation. It’s up to us to make a difference. Please, let’s each do our part to protect our namesake—Block House Creek.