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Published byAubrey Brooks Modified over 9 years ago
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When It Rains, It Drains An overview of Stormwater Management
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Stormwater Runoff Water falls as rain, snow, or ice Most water seeps into the ground If the ground is saturated, frozen, or has an impermeable surface, water flows as runoff
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Point vs. Non-Point Source
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Point source: – Travels through a conveyance system – Regulated under permit program Non-point source: – Runoff that comes from a wide unspecific area – Addressed through voluntary programs
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Why is stormwater a problem? Human activities cause stormwater to decrease in quality and increase in quantity Caused by developed and disturbed land
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Where does stormwater go? Travels over land Carried through Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) Discharges into various creeks and streams Ultimately, the creeks and streams discharge into a larger body of water, like the Schuylkill River
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Where does stormwater go? Stormwater flows to storm drains along the street Water may carry pollutants with it This runoff goes to streams, rivers, lakes, and the oceans untreated
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Southeastern PA Watersheds DARBY CREEK WATERSHED Conestoga
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Stormwater Pollutants Sediment Oil and grease Heat (thermal pollution) Nutrients Bacteria Trace metals Toxic chemicals
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Sediment Pollution Sediment comes from soil erosion and from decomposition of plants and animals Sediment makes water cloudy Sediment is the most common type of water pollutant
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Sediment Pollution Prevention Create vegetative buffers along bodies of water Minimize the amount of exposed soil Use silt fences when disturbing soil
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Oil and Grease Pollution The EPA estimates that 200 million gallons of oil are improperly disposed of each year 1 quart of oil can contaminate 1 million gallons of water
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Oil and Grease Pollution Prevention Fix vehicles that are leaking fluid If you change your own oil, store it in a container and dispose of properly
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Septic System Pollution The EPA estimates that 25% of homes in the U.S. use septic systems Over 4 billions gallons of wastewater per day is dispersed below ground through septic systems
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Septic System Pollution Prevention Have septic system pumped regularly Fix a faulty septic system Fix faulty toilets and leaky faucets to reduce water going through the system Don’t overload the septic system (ex: do several loads of laundry over several days, rather than all in one day)
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Lawn Chemical Pollution Lawn chemicals are fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides Over-application can cause toxic levels of chemicals and excessive nutrient runoff
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Lawn Chemical Pollution Prevention Conduct a soil test Don’t over-fertilize Use chemicals according to their instructions Landscape with native plants
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Thermal Pollution Rain or snowmelt running over pavement picks up heat from asphalt and concrete Warm runoff raises the temperature of bodies of water
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Best Management Practices (BMPs)
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Non-Structural BMPs Pollution prevention and source control Street sweeping Stormwater collection system cleaning and maintenance Low-impact development and land-use planning Snow and snowmelt management Public education
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Structural BMPs Green roofs High density residential areas Grassed/porous pavement
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Hillside Elementary
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Rain Gardens
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Rain Impoundment Basin
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Benefits of Stormwater Management Enhanced opportunities for recreation Reduced flood damage Improved drinking water quality Navigational benefits Reduced illness Enhanced aesthetic value
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