The Water Pollution Control Division of the City of Topeka manages both the Stormwater and Wastewater Utilities. Together the utilities serve approximately 47,000 residents and businesses within, and surrounding, the City of Topeka. The City has several ordinances that were enacted to protect and enhance surface water resources in Topeka.

Sewer Use Ordinance

Chapter 146 Article III. Sewers and Sewage Disposal of the Code outlines what is allowed and prohibited in regards to the sanitary (wastewater) and storm sewer systems for Topeka. Divisions of Chapter 146 that affect or potentially affect surface water quality include the following:

Article III. Sewers & Sewage Disposal

Division 7 Sections 146-326 through 146-340 Septic Tank Truck Operators
Division 8 Sections 146-341 through 146-353 Sewage Connection and Disposal

Article IV. Stormwater Utility

Division 1 Sections 146-376 through 146-380 Generally

Article V. Surface and Groundwater Quality Regulations

Sections 146-451 through 146-469

These parts of the Code of the City of Topeka can be viewed at the following web address: http://www.topeka.org/pdfs/codebook/CH146-UTILITIES.pdf.

Buffer Ordinance

Chapter 66 Article V. Buffer Areas of the Code outlines Topeka’s Buffer Ordinance. The purpose of the ordinance is to “…create and maintain stream buffers as a best management practice.” Stream buffers provide a variety of benefits, decreasing flooding and enhancing water quality. The ordinance establishes minimum acceptable requirements for the design of buffers to protect waterways and water quality in the surface waters in and around Topeka. Specifically the ordinance establishes stream setbacks by stream size and spells out allowable uses for buffer areas. The entire chapter can be found at the following web address: http://www.topeka.org/pdfs/codebook/CH066-ENVIRONMENT.pdf.

Landscape Ordinance

The City of Topeka is interested in enhancing, protecting, and promoting the aesthetic, ecological, and economic environment in Topeka through landscaping associated with new construction. The Appendix C. Comprehensive Zoning Regulations Article XXXVIII. Landscape Requirements help has the following goals:

• Preserving and enhancing Topeka’s urban forest
• Promoting the reestablishment of vegetation in urban areas for health and urban wildlife reasons
• Promotes the use and retention of existing vegetation
• Mitigates the loss of natural resources
• Reduces soil erosion, and volume and rate of discharge of stormwater runoff

A full copy of the ordinance can be found at the following link: Comprehensive Zoning Regulations.pdf.