Stormwater Operation & Maintenance

The City of West Des Moines owns and maintains a vast network of public infrastructure designed to manage rainwater and protect our community from flooding.

Our Public Infrastructure

To keep water moving safely away from homes and businesses, the City maintains thousands of individual structures, including:

  • Intakes & Manholes: Over 11,000 structures that collect and direct water into the system.
  • Storm Pipes: More than 247 miles of underground pipe.
  • Culverts & Outlets: Over 1,100 points where water flows under roads or exits into waterways.
  • Levees & Pump Stations: Specialized structures and 5 high-capacity stations that protect low-lying areas.

Our teams perform routine inspections, remove sediment and debris, repair broken pipes, and manage vegetation to ensure everything stays in working order.

Maintenance Responsibilities

It is important to understand which parts of the drainage system are maintained by the City and which are the responsibility of the property owner.

Public Infrastructure on Private Property

Many public storm sewers and detention ponds are located on private land. In these cases, the City usually has an easement that allows our crews access for repairs.

Note: If the City must dig to fix a pipe, we will restore the grass (sod). However, property owners are responsible for any "obstructions" in the easement, such as fences, sheds, landscaping, or retaining walls that may need to be moved.

Private Drainage & Streams

Ditch areas, swales, and small streams on private property are often part of a larger drainage path that serves several neighbors.

Owner Responsibility: Under Iowa law, individual property owners must allow water to flow naturally through their land. You are responsible for keeping these areas clear of obstructions (like fallen branches or trash) and repairing any soil erosion on your property.

Report a Drainage Issue

If you see a blocked street intake, a broken storm pipe, or significant erosion in a public area, please let us know: