Stormwater management is a growing concern in many communities as more and more natural areas are covered with impervious surfaces. This leads to more stormwater runoff and more potential for pollutants of all kinds to make their way into our water supply.
There are a lot of sources for stormwater pollution in even the smallest communities. Parking lots, driveways, streets, buildings, construction sites, and failed sewer systems all pose some kind of threat the quality of our water. Debris, litter, oils, grease, fertilizer, pesticides, and much, much more can build up in these locations, just waiting for the next storm to wash them into the nearest river or other body of water. Our stormwater management systems were designed to cope with a lot of this, but there are some simple things the entire community can do to make the process more effective.
- Involve and educate the community – Before anyone starts doing their bit to manage stormwater, they are going to need a reason. Find ways to help everyone in the neighborhood understand why these tips are important.
- Don’t dump anything in storm drains – Whether it’s just small pieces of litter or bits of plant matter, anything could start to clog up the system. Always dispose of your garbage properly.
- Choose non-toxic products – The less you use toxic chemicals (on your home, car, or lawn) the less we will see harmful substances getting into our water.
- Conserve and recycle – There are many reasons to be more conservative in our use of materials, and there are always opportunities to recycle, and in the case of stormwater management, this kind of behavior can have immediate benefits.
- Keep drains clear – If any litter or other debris is starting to build up near the stormwater drains, clean it away before the blockage renders the drains completely ineffectual.
- Check the septic system – Any leaks or other degradation to your system can have some pretty serious ramifications. As waste gets into the soil, rainwater can take it further until you have some real problems with the local water supply.
- Make cut backs – Too much chemical influence is never a good thing. Cut back on all the pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers that you’ve been using on your lawn or garden. There’s a good chance you can still get great results with less of the chemical.
- Vehicle care – When you wash your car or change the oil, make sure that the runoff or any spill over is properly handled. Wash your car on the lawn or in a commercial facility, and always make sure that the oils is disposed of or recycled.
- Reduce paved areas – This isn’t something you can do over the weekend, but if you are looking at new landscaping or you’re remodeling your house, look at ways you can open the area to the rain and reduce the impermeable areas.
- Sweep, don’t hose – When you are cleaning off your driveway or sidewalk, take the time to sweep up the debris and dispose of it properly. Don’t just hose all that dirt, oil, and grease into the grass.
Polluted runoff is a real threat to the quality of our clean water, and while many of us don’t give a second thought to where the water from the last storm will end up, it’s a problem we can’t ignore. These tips are a simple way to get started and involve more people in the efforts to keep our water clean.
