CityWorks @How_Cities_Work

Floodplains aren’t just empty land—they’re part of our community’s natural flood protection system. 🌊 Cities manage them through mapping, development regulations, open-space preservation, resilient infrastructure, stormwater improvements, and public education.

Regional detention ponds are more than big holes in the ground. 🌧️💧 They capture stormwater, temporarily store huge volumes, reduce peak flows, and release water at a controlled rate—helping protect homes, roads, rivers, and entire communities during major storms.

Flash floods can overwhelm a community in minutes. 🌧️🌊 Large-municipality stormwater systems use inlets, massive pipe networks, detention basins, pump stations, and controlled outlets to capture, move, store, and safely release stormwater. Plan. Build. Maintain. Protect.

Ever wonder where stormwater goes after it enters a retention pond? 🌧️💧 Retention ponds can capture runoff, allow sediment and pollutants to settle, naturally filter water through soil, and slowly infiltrate water back into the ground—helping recharge our groundwater aquifers.

Ever wonder why you sometimes see water ponding on a roadway during a big storm? 🌧️🌊 Roadways are designed to help temporarily store and convey stormwater, working alongside inlets, pipes, detention basins, and other infrastructure to reduce peak flows and flooding.

How does rainwater actually leave your city? 🌧️📷 A quick look at municipal stormwater systems — from street drains to waterways. Keep those grates clear! #Stormwater #UrbanInfrastructure

Ever wonder how raw water becomes safe drinking water? 💧 Through a carefully controlled process of screening, chemical treatment, filtration, UV disinfection, pH adjustment, and continuous monitoring, water is transformed into clean, reliable drinking water for our communities.

Ever wonder how a city keeps water pressure steady from the treatment plant all the way to your tap? 💧 PRVs, booster pumps, storage tanks, valves, hydrants, meters, and miles of water main all work together behind the scenes to keep water flowing safely and reliably 24/7.

Ever wonder how a culinary water well gets water from hundreds of feet underground to your tap? 💧 From site selection and drilling to well construction, testing, pumping, treatment, storage, and distribution—there’s a lot happening beneath our feet to deliver drinking water.

Ever wonder how water gets from a river or reservoir to your kitchen tap? 💧 Source → Intake → Treatment → Storage → Distribution → Your Tap. It takes miles of infrastructure constant monitoring to deliver safe, reliable drinking water 24/7.

🚧 Pollution prevention starts before the work begins. Planning ahead on construction sites can help control sediment, manage materials, and prevent pollutants from being carried into storm drains and local waterways. 💧 #Stormwater #MS4 #Construction #PollutionPrevention

Sidewalks might look simple, but a lot goes into building one that lasts. 🚧 From planning and grading to base preparation, concrete placement, curing, and ADA-compliant ramps, every step matters. Good sidewalks make communities safer, more accessible, and more connected. 🚶‍♀️♿🚲

Fuel savings. Emissions reductions. Compaction flexibility. It's no surprise Warm Mix Asphalt continues to gain traction. Learn how lower production temperatures are helping producers improve efficiency while supporting long-term pavement performance. 🔗 sbrew.link/YOmoVMLK

Never pour cooking grease or oil down the drain. Let it cool, collect it in a container, and dispose of it properly to help prevent clogged pipes and keep pollutants out of our waterways. 💧🌱 #CMRSWC #Stormwater #CanTheGrease #PollutionPrevention #WaterQuality

Remember, You’re Not Just Washing Your Car! 🚗💧 When you wash your car at home, soap, dirt, oil, and other pollutants can wash into storm drains and local waterways. Choose a commercial car wash to help keep harmful pollutants out of our water! 🌱 #CMRSWC #Stormwater #CarWash #PollutionPrevention #WaterQuality

As autumn approaches, fallen leaves can quickly pile up in your yard and become stormwater pollution. 🍂💧 Help keep leaves and yard waste out of storm drains and local waterways with these simple tips: 🍁 Rake leaves regularly and keep them off streets and sidewalks. 🌱 Compost leaves or use them as mulch when possible. 🗑️ Follow your community’s guidelines for disposing of yard waste. 🚫 Never blow or sweep leaves into storm drains. Small steps can make a big difference in protecting our waterways this fall! 💧 #CMRSWC #Stormwater #YardWaste #FallCleanup #WaterQuality

Handle Car Batteries with Care! 🔋🚗💧 When removing or storing car batteries, keep them upright in a secure, covered area to prevent leaks and spills. Recycle old batteries through a proper collection program to keep harmful materials out of our soil and waterways. 🌱 #CMRSWC #Stormwater #CarBatteries #PollutionPrevention #WaterQuality

It's WHEEL-y important to dispose of your tire rims properly. Our Highway Unit TIRE-lessly cleaned this mess, which was found in the Bronx. We'll cut it out with the puns when people cut it out with the littering. Don't dump on our city!

Protect Your Community from Household Hazardous Waste! 🧴⚠️💧 Properly store, use, and dispose of household hazardous waste to help keep harmful chemicals out of our soil, stormwater, and local waterways. Check your community’s disposal guidelines and never pour hazardous products down drains or onto the ground. 🌱 #CMRSWC #Stormwater #HazardousWaste #PollutionPrevention #WaterQuality #ProtectOurWaterways

Don’t Forget Your Gutters! 🏠💧 Keeping gutters clean and well-maintained helps direct rainwater away from your home and reduce runoff, erosion, and flooding. Regular gutter care is a simple way to help manage stormwater and protect our local waterways! 🌱 #CMRSWC #Stormwater #GutterCare #StormwaterManagement #WaterQuality