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1. What’s the difference between a Boil Order and a Boil Advisory?

A boil advisory is to a tornado watch as a boil order is to a tornado warning. A tornado watch is issued to alert people to the possibility of a tornado development in your area. A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has actually been sighted or is indicated by radar.

2. So, What is a Boil Order?

A boil order is issued by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to public water systems when a threat to the public health exists, or is likely to exist, that boiling the water will remedy. The public water system is then required to notify consumers as soon as possible, and by the most effective methods, that need to boil their drinking water.

3. What is a Boil Advisory?

A public water system may issue a boil advisory when there is concern a problem with drinking water may exist, but it has not yet been confirmed. This may be done, for example, while waiting for results of confirmation samples collected for bacteriological analysis, which can take up to two days plus the time required to transport samples to the laboratory.

4. What precautions should I take if under a boil order or a boil advisory?

The following steps need to be taken:

1. Boil water vigorously for three minutes prior to use. Use only water that has been boiled for drinking, diluting fruit juices, all other food preparation and brushing teeth. 
2. Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic ice maker. Remake ice cubes with water that has been boiled.
3. Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.

Note: Let water cool sufficiently before drinking (approximately 110 degrees Fahrenheit)

5. Do I need to boil bath water?

Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while  bathing or using backyard pools so water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.

6. What are the causes of boil orders?

The presence of E coli bacteria is a common cause for issuing a boil order. Other instances include low water pressure and inadequate levels of chlorine at systems that require chlorination. High turbidity levels, cross connections, inadequate treatment techniques and the presence of other microbial pathogens such as Giardia or Cryptosporidium are potential causes for boil orders that occur less frequently.

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1. What is stormwater?

Stormwater is the surface runoff of rain and snow melt. In undeveloped areas, such as forests and grassy areas, the surface flow of water is slowed by vegetation, allowing much of it to seep into the ground. Developed areas reduce this natural seepage by covering the area with building and impervious surfaces such as parking lots, decreasing the surface area of soil and vegetation. This results in increased amounts and faster flows of storm water runoff. Storm water drainage systems become necessary to prevent flooding.

2. What is stormwater management?

Stormwater management is the process of controlling and processing runoff so it does not harm the environment or human health. Stormwater management is a tool used to prevent water pollution.

3. What is meant by point source and nonpoint source pollution?

Point source is any discernible, confined and discrete conveyance, such as a pipe or channel used to discharge wastewater. Point sources are usually associated with a particular facility where the discharge can be traced directly back to the point of discharge. Nonpoint source is just the opposite. It could come from anywhere or everywhere. Stormwater runoff is one example of nonpoint source pollution. Stormwater runoff flows across yards, streets, parking lots, etc. picking up pollutants and depositing them in local waterways and lakes.

4. What does the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System consist of?

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) is any system where the stormwater is conveyed separately from the sanitary sewer system. A great variety of natural and manmade structures and land forms are used to construct an MS4. These may include inlets, pipes, earth berms and ditches, box culverts and catch basins, grass or concrete channels and culverts under roadways. All or any of these may be used to carry stormwater out of urban areas.

5. Where does Moberly's stormwater flow to?

Receiving Water Sources

The City of Moberly covers approximately 12 square miles. Several creeks and their tributaries flow through the area. There are four major receiving streams that receive the stormwater.  These are Coon Creek and its tributaries, Sweet Springs Creek and its tributaries, Sugar Creek and its tributaries and the Elk Fork of the Salt River.

Southeast

The stormwater generated in the southeastern part of the city, areas east of the Norfolk Southern Railroad and the area south of Sinnock Avenue, flow into the tributaries of Coon Creek. It then enters Coon Creek and is carried to the Elk Fork of the Salt River in Monroe County where it eventually enters Mark Twain Lake.

Northeast

Stormwater from the northeastern part of the City limits flows into the Elk Fork of the Salt River. This includes areas east of the Norfolk Southern Railroad and the areas north of Sinnock Avenue.

Northwest

The northwestern part of the City flows into Sugar Creek, Sugar Creek Lake and their tributaries. This is the area west of Highway 63 and the Norfolk Southern Railroad and north of route EE.

Southwest

Stormwater from the southwestern side of Moberly, areas west of the Norfolk Southern Railroad and south of Route EE, flows into Sweet Springs Creek. Sweet Springs Creek enters the Middle Fork of the Chariton River southeast of Clifton Hill. The various branches of the Chariton River empty into the Missouri River.

Please email City Staff with any further inquiries that you may have.

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1. Urban areas can absorb as much rainfall as a wooded area or grassy field. True or false?

Answer: False. A wooded area or a grassy field is able to absorb up to 5 times as much rainfall as an urban area. Much of the urban area is covered with impervious surfaces such as paved parking lots, rooftops, driveways, streets and sidewalks. Much of the rainfall can not be absorbed and instead runs across the ground in the form of stormwater runoff until it discharges directly into a storm drain and eventually into local waterways.

2. Storm drains and the stormwater sewer system carries stormwater runoff to the local wastewater treatment facility for treatment before it is discharged to local lakes and waterways. True or false?

Answer: False. The storm sewer system is designed to carry stormwater runoff out of the city as quickly as possible to avoid flooding. The majority of stormwater runoff is discharged directly to local lakes and waterways without any type of treatment to remove the pollutants it may have picked up along the way.

3. Which of the following are signs of stormwater pollution? A) Cloudy water B) Algae blooms C) Fish kills D) Oily sheen E) Foul odors F) All of the above

Answer: F) All of the above. Stormwater will pick up sediment, litter, grass clipping, and other yard waste and deposit it in local streams causing turbid or cloudy water. Stormwater will also pick up excess fertilizer and pesticides from the lawn. The phosphates create algae blooms that block sunlight and rob the water of oxygen resulting in fish kills. 

An oily sheen on the water’s surface can be caused by illegal dumping of used oil and other automotive fluids down the storm drains. Rotting leaves, grass clippings and other yard waste deposited in the streams by the stormwater runoff creates foul odors as it decomposes.

4. Which of the following are part of the storm drain system? A) Streams, lakes and ponds B) Ditches and culverts C) Yards, streets, curbs and gutters D) Storm drains and catch basins E) All of the above

Answer: E) All of the above. The storm drain system begins where the rain falls. It is collected in rain barrels, rain gardens and grassy swales. It travels across yards, rooftops, sidewalks, streets and parking lots. It flows through ditches and culverts along curbs and gutters. It enters the piping system through storm drains and catch basins and continues its journey to area lakes, creeks and ponds.

5. The stormwater runoff from your backyard flows to which of the following water bodies? A) Coon Creek B) Elk Fork of the Salt River C) Sweet Springs Creek D) Sugar Creek, Sugar Lake

Answer: This answer depends on where in the City you live.

Coon Creek

Coon Creek and its tributaries accept storm water flow from the area east of the Norfolk and Southern Railroad and south of Sinnock Ave. Coon Creek flows into the Elk Fork of the Salt River just across the Monroe County Line. The Elk Fork flows to the Salt River where it then flows to Mark Twain Lake.

Northeast

Stormwater from the northeastern part of the City limits flows into unnamed tributaries of the Elk Fork of the Salt Rive. This includes areas east of the Norfolk Southern Railroad and the area north of Sinnock Ave.

Sweet Springs

Sweet Springs Creek and its tributaries accept storm water from the southwest side of the City limits. This is the area west of the Norfolk and Southern Railroad and much of the area south of Highway 24

Northwest

Stormwater from the northwestern part of the City limits flows into the unnamed tributaries of Sugar Creek and Creek Lake. This area is mainly north of Highway 24 and east of Business 63.