It rains a lot here in the great “Northwet”, so what’s all the fuss about storm water?
In its natural state, land absorbs water, filtering out impurities and slowing the flow of
rainwater into creeks, lakes and bays. Rooftops, asphalt driveways, sidewalks and parking
lots are impervious and armor the land so it can no longer absorb water. If rain water cannot
soak into soil, it runs over the hard surface, finding the fastest route to the nearest
waterway. In urban areas, this route is often via a storm drain.
Many people see water
running into storm drains and assume it’s transported to the sewage treatment plant to be
treated before discharge. Because of this misconception, some people pour paint, oil, and
even antifreeze into the storm drain. But water running into the storm drain receives no
treatment at all! It is simply routed directly to the nearest body of water (stream, lake,
river, bay). Run-off from streets, driveways, rooftops, and even lawns, picks up any
impurities like oil, antifreeze, soaps, litter, pesticides, solvents and pet waste – and
carries those pollutants to the nearest stream, (with added efficiency, thanks to the storm
drain system!).
Our community is growing. With growth comes more
pavement, more houses, more shops, and more people with
cars, yard chemicals and pets. This combination of cars,
homes, people and animals makes pollution from storm
water a serious threat to water quality.
Pounding the Pavement
In the natural world, the ground acts like a sponge,
soaking up rainwater, filtering out impurities, and
slowly releasing it into surface waters. This important
function not only helps clean stormwater, but it also
regulates the flow by absorbing rainwater during storms
and releasing it slowly into the creek over time.
Pavement increases runoff that carries harmful
pollutants to our streams, lakes, and bays. Porous
surfaces, such as natural landscapes, “grasscrete,” and
gravel, slowly absorb water, filtering out pollutants
and reducing runoff.
Please check
ONLY those items that apply to you,
and that you are not already doing.
I pledge to:
A.
Never dump toxic materials down storm drains or on the ground.
B.
Use spaced paving stones, bricks, sand or gravel in my driveway and walkways.
C.
Position gutters so that they drain rainwater onto grass or garden beds and away
from impervious surfaces.
D.
Leave buffers of native vegetation at the base of hills and along the water’s edge.
E.
Minimize impervious surfaces when remodeling or building. Select a tall house with a
small footprint.
Did you know?
Once 12-15% of a
watershed is covered with impervious surfaces, there’s a
measurable decline in stream health. The average house
has at least 5,000 square feet of impervious surface
(rooftops, driveways, walkways, and decks). This means
that stream health declines at densities of only one
house per acre! Consider rolling back the damage: remove
unnecessary concrete and asphalt around your house and
replace it with native plants!
cars, yard chemicals and pets. This combination of cars,
homes, people and animals makes pollution from storm
water a serious threat to water quality.