Innovative Gutter Bins Capture Pollution Before It Enters Stormwater System In City Of Colorado Springs

Press release from the City of Colorado Springs:

August 4, 2021

The Colorado Springs Stormwater Enterprise has partnered with Frog Creek Partners to reduce the amount of trash entering our stormwater system and polluting our waterways through the use of innovative Gutter Bins to capture toxic pollution before it enters the stormwater system.

Each Gutter Bin will capture about 30 pounds of trash per month just before it enters our stormwater system.

“Thousands of pounds of trash and debris enter our stormwater system every year which requires significant maintenance taking a toll on both our stormwater system and our watersheds,” said Jeff Besse, Water Quality Program Manager for the City of Colorado Springs. “The Clean Water Community Challenge allows businesses and organizations to actively reduce the amount of pollution in our waterways while leaving a legacy of clean water with curbside branding.”

A huge thanks to Robertson’s Landscaping for helping to maintain the bins and to GE Johnson, WSP Engineering, and the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs for their efforts to help keep our stormwater system and waterways clean for everyone!

Benefits to the community

• Helps environment and water quality with each capturing approximately 30 pounds of trash and debris every month.
• Cost effective way to reduce pollution- cost savings can be allocated to other stormwater projects and programs
• Builds awareness

Benefits to sponsors

The Colorado Springs Stormwater Enterprise launched a pilot program in July 2019 with the installation of three Gutter Bins to test this innovative technology and determined the filtration system offers a final fail-safe to capture trash and debris before it enters the stormwater system.

With the success of the pilot program, the City purchased six additional Gutter Bins in August 2020.

For more information about the Clean Water Community Challenge and how to get involved visit www.ColoradoSprings.gov/CleanWaterChallenge.

This press release was produced by the City of Colorado Springs. The views expressed here are the author’s own.