Stormwater Management

Every time it rains, thousands of gallons of water come down to earth and enter into our water systems. In natural areas, a large percentage of the precipitation infiltrates through the soils and trickle slowly back into the ground water table. As water filters through the layers of soils in the earth, it is naturally filtered.

Now that we have developed such a large portion of our land and created acres of impervious surfaces (surfaces that do not allow for water to infiltrate, i.e. pavement, asphalt, rooftops, etc.), this natural infiltration process does not occur with such ease.

Since precipitation does not have the ability to infiltrate through the soil, it “runs off” and then enters into the wastewater treatment system or enters into bodies of water with destructive consistency and force. Runoff contains pollution which creates problems for our waterways. As stormwater travels over the impervious surfaces, it comes into contact with various petroleum products, chemicals, pet waste, etc, and those enter into the bodies of water harming the natural ecosystems. The polluted stormwater runoff also enters into the waste water treatment plants, creating a larger load to be treated, adding a greater number of pollutants to the systems. Finally, during storms, sewer and runoff toxins combine in such volumes that they overload our water treatment plants, which can only treat a portion of this witches brew and release untreated water into the river and lake making it unsafe to swim or wade through.

To help decrease the stormwater runoff and pollution from your home, take some of the following precautions:

• Wash your car at a car wash or on your lawn, not on your driveway. This helps to stop contaminants and oils entering into the waterways and sewers.
• Make sure there are no leaks on any of your motorized vehicles, if so clean up the spill properly and get the leaks fixed immediately.
• Do not dump oils, paints, and chemicals down the drain.
• Take hazardous substances, oils, gas, paints, and chemicals to local drop-off and recycling centers.
• Always make sure these items are disposed of properly.
• Do not use fertilizers and pesticides right before it rains. Use the products as infrequently as possible, if at all.
• Select native plants for your yard and gardens. Native species generally need less fertilizers, pesticides, etc.
• Do not over-water your lawn.
• Compost yard debris.
• Keep your whole yard covered with various types of vegetation to avoid erosion and soil loss.
• Contain construction debris and keep it out of stormwater drains.
• Use recycled products whenever possible.
• Do not use paint thinner outdoors and filter and reuse paint thinner, and take paint and paint thinner to local recycling centers or drop it off at the appropriate city facility.
• Reduce the paved area at your home, use gravel, dirt, or other more permeable surfaces.
• Plant various types of plants native to our region, and minimize the use of conventional grass.
• Clean up pet waste and flush it.
• Drain your pool into a sanitary sewer.
• Keep your septic system maintained and working properly.
• Do not park or drive over your septic system and drain fields.
• Do not flush chemicals, paints, antifreeze, etc.

Resources

• The Stormwater Center
• EPA publication "Solution to Polution" (pdf)