Property Drainage
Property owners often wonder how to best manage drainage, if the infrastructure is blocked, or why there’s water in the street or yard swales. The City offers a variety of resources and technical assistance for yard drainage.
Have a stormwater concern?
Our staff can investigate issues that may be public problems, such as:
- Public infrastructure maintenance, unblocking storm drains and subdivision basin outfalls
- Standing water that lasts 72 hours or longer that cannot be resolved with finish grading;
- Issues that may damage public infrastructures, buildings or cause loss of life;
- Street ponding that prevents emergency access;
- High-risk stream bank erosion that impacts multiple properties; or
- Pollution issues that can degrade stream water quality. Learn how to identify and report pollution.
If you have a public concern, please use the City’s Customer Service Center. To take care of your request in a timely manner, please provide as much information as possible.
Remember – safety first! Use caution driving through flooded areas.
Environmental Emergencies
After business hours, contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Emergency Response online or by calling (573) 634-2436.
Public vs. Private Responsibility
The City of Wentzville owns and maintains public infrastructure (i.e. pipes, inlets, manholes, etc.) dedicated by the Board of Aldermen, within easements. Easements are typically on private property and granted for constructing and maintaining the improvements. Generally, property maintenance above and around public infrastructure is a private matter unless caused by a public infrastructure deficiency.
Per City ordinance and state law, the City only maintains public infrastructure, and cannot undertake drainage improvements on private property, unless an easement exists for public infrastructure. Generally, the following are privately owned and maintained, unless part of dedicated public infrastructure, or when an executed agreement otherwise obligates the City with responsibilities:
- Driveway culverts and approaches in the right-of-way (Policy)
- Drainage across private property
- Drainage improvements such as French drains, gutter and sump pump extensions, rain gardens
- Common grounds
- Stormwater Facilities – Detention, retention and water quality structures
- Streams, stream banks, and floodplains
- Mitigation Areas
Record plats and subdivision covenants may outline responsibilities or restrictions, such as grounds maintenance, drainage, debris and vegetation management, or pollution prevention. Annual inspections and maintenance by property owners are recommended to ensure proper function.
Get inspired on your own property or common grounds!
Check out how these local projects use important water resources and even help resolve nuisances and maintenance issues.
Drainage
- Make sure the ground and downspouts slope away from foundations.
- Keep fencing slightly above drainage areas, rather than at ground level.
- Ensure yard drainage is not diverted or blocked (by patios, pools, planters, sheds).
- Routinely inspect and remove debris such as leaves from stormwater structures.
Standing Water
If your home is new, your developer may help resolve finish grading issues. If not, here are options to manage problematic areas:
- Try rain gardening (How-to Manual) or installing a french drain to bring the water below the surface.
- Install a rain barrel to collect water from downspouts and use it to water your landscaping. How to Build and Install a Rain Barrel Slideshow
- Secret of My Soggy Success (Homeowners’ Association Symposium presentation)
Erosion
If water is causing erosion, feel free to contact us to help determine the source and recommend solutions.
Make Your Home a Solution to Pollution!
Click here to learn more about making your home a solution for pollution!
A Note about Buying Property
It pays to do research before buying property, since you may be financially responsible for drainage or erosion issues. The City Public Works and Community Development departments are available to assist you with any questions. Please contact the Customer Service Center. The St. Charles County Soil & Water Conservation District also has free soil surveys and offers technical assistance; call (636) 922-2833.
Stormwater Projects
The City of Wentzville provides stormwater management to meet the needs of our residents and customers. Safe and clean streams and lakes, and flood control are a few of the goals we achieve for the community.
Current Projects
ARPA DOWNTOWN STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS
Federally-funded projects across the historic downtown area will replace or rehabilitate deteriorated pipes and make improvements to system capacity and maintenance access. Design to begin in summer 2023. (6/10/2023)
Completed Projects
VICTORIA PARK AVE. STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS
This project upsized several single curb inlets to double curb inlets, added a trench drain and a small section of pipe to help reduce street ponding during heavy storms. For questions about this project, please contact Steve Watson, Construction Inspector at (636) 639-2153.
CITYWIDE HYDROLOGIC ASSESSMENTS
As part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan goals, and with state DNR grant funding, hydrologic modeling helped to evaluate current and future ‘built-out’ stormwater management needs and impacts on stream channels. (2023)
PEARCE BLVD. STORM PIPE REPLACEMENTS
2022 City Boundary & Streams CMP 3
Repair work included replacing a deteriorated storm line and infrastructure in the vicinity of 102 E. Pearce Blvd. Deteriorated stormwater Pipes were replaced near Cheryl Ann Dr. and Carr St. (2022)
HEARTLAND PARK
Pervious pavement, athletic field biofilters, a native meadow, and parking lot bioswales help filter pollutants from runoff before it gets to the park’s seven-acre lake. The lake forebay traps mud and trash coming with runoff from 500 acres of development along I-70 and Wentzville Pkwy.
Video
Learn More
BRIAN CT. UTILITY STABILIZATION, PHASE II
Construction is complete with composite revetments, grade controls and sanitary line encasement to stabilize infrastructure compromised by eroding creek banks.