201 E 6TH ST
PO BOX 426
NEWTON, KS
67114-2215

NPDES SURVEY: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Storm_Water

Type: Executive Summary Report

Date: 7/29/2005

Total number of responses collected: 163

1: What is stormwater?

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Polluted water in any form, like acid rain 2 1.23% 2 Water that is inside our stormwater drains 11 6.75% 3 Water runoff from any form of precipitation that flows on the ground 126 77.30% 4 Any precipitation in any form or location 17 10.43% 5 Don’t know 7 4.29%   Total 163 100.00%

2: What liquids and solids are safe to dispose into a storm drain? (check all that apply)

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Rain water 160 98.16% 2 Oil 3 1.84% 3 Antifreeze 2 1.23% 4 Leaves 11 6.75% 5 Grass clippings 10 6.13% 6 Soapy water 37 22.70% 7 Litter 3 1.84%

3: What is the difference between the storm drain in the streets and the sewer drain inside your home?

Value Label Count Frequency 1 There is no difference; all pipes lead to the same treatment plant. 10 6.13% 2 The storm rain leads directly to our waterways whereas the sewer inside your home leads to the treatment plant. 142 87.12% 3 The storm drain and sewer drain inside your home lead directly to local waterways. 3 1.84% 4 Don’t know 8 4.91%   Total 163 100.00%

4: How concerned are you about pollution in local bodies of water (example, Sand Creek)?

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Very concerned 85 52.15% 2 Somewhat concerned 66 40.49% 3 Not concerned 10 6.13% 4 Not sure 2 1.23%   Total 163 100.00%

5: Do you think you can personally do anything to help improve water quality in streams and waterways in Newton?

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Yes 116 71.17% 2 No 14 8.59% 3 Don’t know 33 20.25%   Total 163 100.00%

6: Overall, how important do you think it is for the city/county governments to provide residents with information about water quality in streams and waterways in Newton?

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Very important 107 65.64% 2 Somewhat important 46 28.22% 3 Not important 5 3.07% 4 Not sure 5 3.07%   Total 163 100.00%

7: When you water your yard, is there run-off on the sidewalk or street?

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Yes 57 34.97% 2 No 106 65.03%   Total 163 100.00%

8: How often do you wash your car in the driveway?

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Always 8 4.91% 2 Sometimes 58 35.58% 3 Never 97 59.51%   Total 163 100.00%

9: How often do you apply pesticides and/or fertilizers to your lawn?

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Once a year 77 47.24% 2 2 to 4 times a year 69 42.33% 3 More than 4 times a year 17 10.43%   Total 163 100.00%

10: True or false: Pet waste is a natural part of the environment; therefore it isn’t harmful to our waterways.

Value Label Count Frequency 1 True 18 11.04% 2 False 145 88.96%   Total 163 100.00%

11: How willing would you be to do the following things to protect water bodies in Newton? Take household hazardous waste to disposal facility

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Very willing 104 63.80% 2 Somewhat willing 48 29.45% 3 Not willing 11 6.75%   Total 163 100.00%

12: How willing would you be to do the following things to protect water bodies in Newton? Wash car on lawn/grass

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Very willing 70 42.94% 2 Somewhat willing 45 27.61% 3 Not willing 48 29.45%   Total 163 100.00%

13: How willing would you be to do the following things to protect water bodies in Newton? Reduce lawn chemical use

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Very willing 58 35.58% 2 Somewhat willing 87 53.37% 3 Not willing 18 11.04%   Total 163 100.00%

14: How willing would you be to do the following things to protect water bodies in Newton? Landscape with native, regionally-adopted plants

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Very willing 82 50.31% 2 Somewhat willing 69 42.33% 3 Not willing 12 7.36%   Total 163 100.00%

15: How willing would you be to do the following things to protect water bodies in Newton? Pick up/dispose of pet waste properly

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Very willing 90 55.21% 2 Somewhat willing 43 26.38% 3 Not willing 30 18.40%   Total 163 100.00%

16: How willing would you be to do the following things to protect water bodies in Newton? Help pick up trash along streams in community.

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Very willing 51 31.29% 2 Somewhat willing 86 52.76% 3 Not willing 26 15.95%   Total 163 100.00%

17: How willing would you be to do the following things to protect water bodies in Newton? Increase the amount of vegetated area in your yard.

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Very willing 80 49.08% 2 Somewhat willing 61 37.42% 3 Not willing 22 13.50%   Total 163 100.00%

18: Would you be more willing to take actions to protect the environment if you knew that runoff from streets, parking lots, and lawns was not treated before entering lakes, streams and rivers?

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Yes 136 83.44% 2 No 27 16.56%   Total 163 100.00%

19: Please indicate whether or not you think the following issues are problems in the Newton area: Water pollution from industrial/manufacturing discharges

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Major problem 32 19.63% 2 Minor problem 112 68.71% 3 No problem 19 11.66%   Total 163 100.00%

20: Please indicate whether or not you think the following issues are problems in the Newton area: Water pollution from stormwater runoff

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Major problem 44 26.99% 2 Minor problem  100 61.35% 3 No problem 19 11.66%   Total 163 100.00%

21: Please indicate whether or not you think the following issues are problems in the Newton area: Water pollution from raw sewage discharge

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Major problem 25 15.34% 2 Minor problem  89 54.60% 3 No problem 49 30.06%   Total 163 100.00%

22: Please indicate whether or not you think the following issues are problems in the Newton area: Water pollution from farming and agriculture

Value Label Count Frequency 1 Major problem 71 43.56% 2 Minor problem 80 49.08% 3 No problem 12 7.36%   Total 163 100.00%