Waterborne Pollutants in the Scioto River 1 Examples of pollutants carried by stormwater Waterborne Pollutants in the Scioto River

2 Rainwater carries away liquid and solid pollutants. Some are visible and some are not. The Problem This polluted water runs through the streams, to the rivers, and ultimately to the sea. Waterborne litter presents a hazard to wildlife and boaters, and clutters the riverbanks. Plastic, metal and glass flotsam can last for decades once in place on the riverbank.

Waterborne Pollutants in the Scioto River 3 Agricultural runoff and municipal wastewater taint the river water before it reaches town. The Problem Sometimes the river foams like dishwater.

Waterborne Pollutants in the Scioto River 4 Agriculture and development disturb soil and dump silt into the streams. The silt puts an extra load on the drinking-water treatment systems. The Problem The river runs brown with suspended sediment. Once washed away, the topsoil is lost forever.

Waterborne Pollutants in the Scioto River 5 Because runoff washes away pollutants, the water is not clean when it reaches the streams. The Problem Poorly-maintained vehicles leak or spill a variety of fluids, many of them toxic.

Waterborne Pollutants in the Scioto River 6

7 Every winter, the roads are covered with tons of salt, all of which will wash into the streams. This changes the chemical composition of the water. The Problem More population = more roads = more salt.

Waterborne Pollutants in the Scioto River 8 Obsolete and overburdened sewage systems overflow into the river. The Problem This happens in downtown Columbus, but individual septic systems can also overflow.

Waterborne Pollutants in the Scioto River 9 Natural litter such as logs and sticks always occurs on the rivers. Artificial litter mixes in with it, and travels wherever the river will take it. The Problem

Waterborne Pollutants in the Scioto River 10 Anything large or small that floats can be carried anywhere on the water. All of it will be deposited somewhere. The Problem Can Bottle Truck wheel

Waterborne Pollutants in the Scioto River 11 Large dumped items that may or may not float can be moved by the force of ice jams and related flooding. The Problem Ice blocks Ice box

Waterborne Pollutants in the Scioto River 12 The litter may come from far away. It washes from storm sewers, to streams, to the river. The Problem Some of it can be physically dangerous, like fishing line.

Waterborne Pollutants in the Scioto River 13 The litter washes up wherever the high water leaves it, still mixed with sticks. The Problem Not all of it floats on the surface. Some of it gets snared in branches, giving a hint of how much is unseen in the water.

Waterborne Pollutants in the Scioto River 14

15 If the litter isn’t caught somewhere along the way, it will reach the ocean. It can travel around the world for years before finally washing up. The Problem Many groups around the world are fighting this problem.

Waterborne Pollutants in the Scioto River 16 Communities and groups are beginning to try to reduce their pressures on the watershed. Federal and local laws protect water quality. The Solution Highway crews and property managers are adopting more efficient methods to salt roads. It saves them money.

Waterborne Pollutants in the Scioto River 17 Construction companies are required to control sediment running off of worksites. The Solution Farmers are converting to environmentally friendly methods such as no-till farming.

Waterborne Pollutants in the Scioto River 18 The Solution Recycling opportunities divert useable materials from the solid waste stream. Consumers can choose to buy reusable containers, instead of single-use disposables. 3 liters in 108 grams vs. 85 grams

Waterborne Pollutants in the Scioto River 19 River cleanups can net huge amounts of trash. This leaves things cleaner here, but it also intercepts material that would continue downstream. The Solution You never know what may turn up.

Waterborne Pollutants in the Scioto River 20 People are becoming involved in their communities and taking action to improve them. The Solution END