STORM WATER MANAGEMENT
WATER QUALITY PROTECTION GUIDELINES
For Homeowners and Businesses
There are two broad classes of water pollution: Point Source and Non-Point Source. A point source of pollution has an easily identified origin of pollution, usually a discharge pipe of some kind. This makes point sources of pollution easy to find and fix. Over the last few decades, this has happened within the U.S.
Non-point source pollution is now the leading cause of water pollution. Non-point source water pollution is widely distributed over a fairly large area. Non-point source pollution typically has several very small sources that would not be problems by themselves, but collectively have serious impacts on water quality. Another problem with non-point source pollution is the variety of pollutants present. This makes it very difficult to find the original source and to prevent the pollution from leaving the original source.
Making residents and business owners aware of the potential dangers of non-point source pollution will hopefully lead to a reduction in problem pollutants in the area. What are some of the problem pollutants? Sediment, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, paints, solvents, trash and the list goes on.
How can what I do at my home or business affect water quality?
The answer to this question all depends on what you do at your home or business. Many everyday actions can contribute pollutants to our local waterways. Some things that do not seem like pollutants can actually cause serious problems once they enter our local waterways.
Using native plants in landscaping, proper irrigation scheduling, using mulch in planting beds, proper storage and disposal of household hazardous wastes, putting trash in bins or at a landfill (NOT the side of the road), and washing vehicles in wash areas with catchment basins or on grassed surfaces are all actions that can lead to a reduction of pollutants entering our local waterways.
Dumping substances like: paint, oil, gas, cooking oils/grease, lawn wastes, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, pet wastes, detergents and many other household products into the storm drain system results in decreased water quality. These substances do not have to be dumped directly into the storm drain to enter our local waterways. If left on the ground during a rainfall event, they may be carried into the storm drain system by rainfall runoff.
How can I help improve the quality of our water?
One of the first ways to help improve water quality is to get educated about polluted stormwater runoff. Many of the links to the left have information about how everyday activities affect stormwater quality. Along with that information are ways everyone can help keep our local waterways clean.
Learning what the problems are is only the first step. There are many recommendations to reduce the potential for pollutants to enter our local waterways. Following these recommendations for activities with a risk for releasing pollutants is the second step in the pollution prevention process.
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