West Des Moines, IA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- City Code §§ 4-8A-1, 4-8A-5
- Prohibited act
- Illicit discharge of pollutants
- Connection rule
- Requires Director of Public Works approval
- Inspection authority
- Right of entry for City staff (§ 4-8A-6)
- Private system liability
- Owner responsible if not publicly dedicated
- Penalty process
- Notice, then civil penalty under § 1-4-1
Summary
The City of West Des Moines operates a storm water utility under section 4-8A-1 of the City Code to manage, protect, and regulate storm water systems citywide, and section 4-8A-5 bars anyone from damaging that infrastructure, discharging pollutants into it, entering it without authorization, or connecting a private system to it without the Director of Public Works' approval.
No person shall do, or allow, any of the following: A. Damage Storm Water Management Systems And Facilities: Maliciously, wilfully or negligently break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface or tamper with any structure, pipe, appurtenance or equipment which is part of the storm water management systems or facilities. B. Illicit Discharges: No person shall throw, drain or otherwise discharge or cause to throw, drain, run or allow to seep or otherwise be discharged into the city of West Des Moines storm water management systems and facilities, including, but not limited to, pollutants or waters containing any pollutants, other than storm water. C. Manholes: Open or enter any manhole, structure or intake of the storm water system, except by authority of the director of public works. D. Connection: Connection of any private storm water system to the city's storm water management systems and facilities, except by authority of the director of public works.
Full Breakdown
Article A of Chapter 8, Title 4 establishes the City's storm water utility. Section 4-8A-1 states its purpose: to manage, protect, control, regulate, use, and enhance storm water management systems and facilities within the City's corporate boundaries. Section 4-8A-3 defines what the utility covers, including every river, stream, creek, branch, lake, pond, drainageway, channel, ditch, swale, storm sewer, culvert, inlet, catch basin, pipe, dam, and headwall, natural or manmade, that controls or conveys storm water the City intentionally diverts from its streets and properties; the City's operation and maintenance responsibility extends only to segments within public rights of way, easements, or other City-accessible land, while systems on private property without public dedication remain the property owner's legal responsibility.
The Director of Public Works, under section 4-8A-4, operates and maintains the public system, conducts inspections and tests, keeps records, and recommends storm water policy to the city council. Section 4-8A-5 lists four prohibited acts: damaging, defacing, or tampering with any storm water structure or equipment; discharging or allowing pollutants, other than storm water itself, into the system; opening or entering any manhole, structure, or intake without the Director's authorization; and connecting any private storm water system to the City's system without that same authorization.
Section 4-8A-6 gives the Director and other authorized City employees, carrying proper credentials, the right to enter private properties to inspect, observe, measure, sample, and test private storm water discharges that reach the public system. The utility is funded through storm water management fees under Article B of the same chapter, billed to every developed property based on its impervious surface area measured in equivalent residential units.
Violations & Fines
Section 4-8A-7 requires the City to serve written notice on anyone violating Chapter 8, stating the nature of the violation and a reasonable deadline to correct it. A violation that continues past that deadline draws a civil penalty under section 1-4-1 of the code, with each additional day counted as a separate offense, and the violator becomes liable to the City for any expense, loss, or damage the violation causes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for maintaining storm drains on private property in West Des Moines?
Can I connect my property's drainage directly into the City's storm sewer?
What counts as an illegal discharge into the storm water system?
Can City employees inspect storm water discharges on private land?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in West Des Moines
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