Welcome to Tarrant County Public Health’s Storm Water Education and Pollution Prevention page. Tarrant County is dedicated to helping our citizens understand the importance of preventing water pollution.

What exactly is storm water? From a watershed (anywhere there are land features, such as, soil rock and vegetation), storm water is any unfiltered water runoff that reaches creeks, streams, lakes, estuaries, and oceans by flowing across impervious surfaces, such as, roads, parking lots, driveways, roof tops and solid land features.

During these flow events, storm water picks up toxic pesticides, detergents, fertilizers, metals and sediment that may ultimately contaminate water sources. When this happens, all life forms, including humans are affected, reducing a healthy, productive quality of life.

As a citizen and a community, we all have the ability and responsibility to help protect our valuable water resources, as well as, all wildlife which depends on these healthy habitable environments to sustain life.

Community Involvement:

YOU can help prevent storm water runoff from being polluted by taking these following steps:

• Disposal of household chemicals 
• Lawns & landscaping  
• Car care

• Environmental Protection Agency
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
• North Central Texas Council of Governments
• Texas AgriLife Extension Service  
• North Texas Grease Abatement Council

Consider becoming a Certified Watershed Steward (“anyone willing to learn and a desire to improve and protect community water resources”) or starting a storm water support group (“includes landowners, agricultural producers, decision makers and/or community leaders”) in your area by visiting the Texas AgriLife Extension Service  or Environmental Protection Agency   Web sites.

Permitting:

Please visit the Tarrant County Transportation Department's Storm Water Construction Permits Web page if you have any questions regarding the rules and regulations, as they pertain to unincorporated Tarrant County areas, or you may contact Robert Berndt, REM, at 817-884-2634. Additional permit information can be obtained by visiting the Storm Water Authority’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Web pages.

Education Outreach:

If you would like to schedule a presentation or request additional information regarding storm water education and pollution prevention techniques, please contact:

Tarrant County Public Health
1101 South Main Street, Suite 2300
Fort Worth, Texas 76104
817.321.4988
rlgrassl@tarrantcounty.com