Rain to Recreation

A watershed is an area of land that drains to a common body of water, such as a nearby creek, stream, river or lake. Watersheds vary considerably in size. For example, when it rains, all the water from a small watershed may travel to a local creek. That creek will flow into a larger stream, like Mill Creek, which collects water from an even larger watershed. Mill Creek flows into the Kansas River, which then deposits water into the Missouri River.

See a map of Lenexa's watersheds(PDF, 2MB)

Runoff from rainstorms is called stormwater. When stormwater flows over surfaces such as streets, parking lots and lawns, it picks up pollutants such as oil, fertilizer and trash. This water then flows directly to streams, rivers and lakes without treatment. Without treatment polluted waters are a health concern and detrimental to wild life and plants.

Storm drains are the metal grates found on urban and suburban streets, often at corners and on the sides of curbs and gutters. They help prevent flooding by draining rainwater and melted snow off of streets and other paved surfaces.

No. The water that goes down a sink or toilet in your home or business flows through a sewer system to a wastewater treatment plant, where it is treated and cleaned. Water that flows down a driveway or street and into a gutter goes to storm drain and directly to a natural body of water, untreated.

We are responsible for ensuring that thousands of storm drain inlets and hundreds of miles of conveyance pipes citywide are clear of obstructions that might cause water to back up and cause flooding. Storm drains and inlets are cleaned on a periodic basis across the community as conditions and seasons dictate.

To report flooding from a storm drain, please call the Municipal Services Department at 913.477.7880 or submit a Service Request.

Lenexa's Stormwater Utility Charge pays for stormwater improvements and infrastructure rehabilitation to ensure our lakes, stream and natural habitats stay healthy and our residents stay safe.

Our Storm Systems Development (SSD) Charge is a stormwater utility fee that functions like a wastewater or drinking water utility fee. It is a dedicated fee that is only used to fund the operation, construction and maintenance of stormwater infrastructure to prevent flooding and protect water quality. The SSD Charge is a one-time fee collected at the time of construction.

The fee is based on the amount of stormwater a particular parcel passes to the stormwater system from the average amount of impervious surfaces (things such as driveways and rooftops) associated with a single-family home in Lenexa. We take a standard measurement, termed an Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU), of 2,750 square feet. For commercial and multi-family units, we calculate the total impervious area and divide it by 2,750 square feet to arrive at the total number of EDUs for any particular dwelling. Therefore, the more runoff a building contributes, the greater the fee.

All businesses and homes within a given watershed have an effect on the quantity and quality of the stormwater runoff in that area, despite how far the property is located from a stream or lake. All Lenexa residents have equal responsibility to support stormwater programs and infrastructure, based on their calculated contribution, the EDU.