WERE CAN FND OUT - MO R E N F 0 R M AT 0 N? Your EPA Regional Office (Water Management )i\ ision) 1. FP/\ kgion (CT, hll,, hla, NH, R, V1) J K ccleral lldg.; $oston, MA 02203 617-505-3478 2. 'A kgion 11 (N, NY, 1'11, V) 26 leilcral Plaza; New Yorh, NY 10278 212-2fV-25 1.3 3. 4 PA Region ll (L, M), PA, VA, WV, ><') 841 ( liestnut Street; 'hiladelphia, 'A 19107 215-597-9410 11'11 lt.gioi1 V (A,(#A, 1, hl\, N(, \(, N, ky) { 15 ( ourll'ind \., N ; Atlclntci, (#A 30.M15 404-347-4450 menial Protection What Everyone Should Know About Storm Water 6. L'A Region V (AR, LA, Ok, TX, NM) 1445 Ross Ave., Suite 1200 l>'tll<15, 1 X 75202-2733 214-655-710(~ 7. L'A kgiori \'1 (A, KS, MC), N ) 726 Minnesota Ave.; Kansas ('ity, ks 66101 9 13-55 1-7030 8.,PA Region V11 (CO, U, W\, M r', N), S)) 999 18th st., 'juite 500; )enver, CO 80202 30.3-29.3-1542 9. 'A 1rgion 1X (AL,( A, (M, 111, NV) 75 tl,iwthorric \tree(; \an rancirco, ( A 94105 4 15-744-2125 10. >/\ Region X (AK, ll, OR, WA) 1200 Sixth Ave.; Feattle, WA 98101 206-5 5 3-1 793 and pavement when it rains or when snow and ice melt. The water seeps into the ground or drains into what we call storm sewers. These are the drains you see at street corners or at low points on the sides of your streets. Collectively, the draining water is called storm water runoff and is a concern to us in commercial and industrial sites as well as your neighborhood becauce of the pollutants it carries. Other wurcrs include: Storm Water llotline (703) 821-4823 State arid mcal Agencies Pnnled mth SoylCanda nk on papertha1 cuntans at least 50% reqded Sbr
WHY S STORM WATER A PROBLEM? Storm water is a problem when it picks up debris, chemicals, and other pollutants as it flows or when it causes flooding and erosion of stream banks. The pollutnrits are deposited iintre;ltcd into our rvate:-tv:lys. The result <:ill be the closing of our beaches: no swimming, fishing or bo,ating; and injuiv to the plants anti animals that live in or use the water. WHAT ARE THESE POLLUTANTS? WHERE DO THiY COME FROM? WHAT ARE SOME OF THER EFFECTS ON PLANTS, ANMALS, AND HUMANS? The following information :1 nniwei thew questions and let you hnon what you mci your community can do to help recognize where there could he problem and what to do to help solve it! EP.A has a storm water program that, with your help, can keep our rivers. lakes, streams, and oceans open to use and enjoyment, and healthy for plants arid animnlr to live in.
. MUNCPAL PROGRAM Here are some of the most important steps your community can take to control storm water pollution: F 1; : Prevent the release into the storm sewer system of hazardous substances such as used oil or household or yard chemicals Make sure new commercial and residential developments include storm water management controls, such as reducing areas of paved surfaces to allow storm water to seep into the ground. 3 Promote practices such as street sweeping, limiting use of road salt, picking up litter, and disposing of leaves and yard wastes quickly. Collect samples of storm water from industrial sites to see whether pollutants are being released. f so, identi@ the type and quantity of pollutants being released.
,,.. -, L!) c ciiii agree that the 1)est way to protect \vntcr qtiiility is to avoid polluting it in the first place. PA lias ii National Storni Water 'erniit Prograiii that focuses on inunicipal and industrial ~)Olltit ioii prevention to ielp control storm \\later )ollutioii. '1 his prograni involves issuing 1)criiiits to certain niunicipalities and industries to coiitrol storin rviiter pollution. kvelopincnt i)t State iiiid local storm water niariagement 1jrogr.uii5 cm lielp to achieve tlic Clean Water.-\c.t godis of fi5lial)lc and swiiiinia1,lc waters. Operators ot lanilfills sli~~tiltl keep the storm water ruiiol t ron1 flowing over tlie pollutants and c,irrying thein off the liiiitlfill silt..
Design and institute flood control prolectr in a wav that docs not impair water quality. Prevent runotf ot eyccst pesticide5 fertilizers, and herbicides bv using them properly and etficieritly (( oninierciai, institutional. and residential landscapes c m be de5igned to prevent pollution, conserve water, and look beautitul at the anie time.) liahe sure that con5truction sites control the amount of soil that is washed otf by rain into waterways. Promote citizen participation and public group activity to increase awareness and education at all levels. Encourage local collection pick-up days and recycling of household hazardous waste materials to prevent their disposal into storm drains. r 1 ' A northwest city, recognizing the need for storm Lvater management, set up a special water utility to oversee all local government storm water control activities and to raise the money for storm water projects. The city collects fees from citizens using the storm water sewer system and uses the funds to implement storm water programs. The program is still successfully providing funds for such varied purposes as flood control, maintenance of existing storm water controls, and public education. R t
--.... -.,... types of Loiitaiii<.rb tliat do not rust or leak, eliiiiiiiatiiig euposiire of niaterialb to storiii water runoil. 11%- -.,.... -. -. - A manufacturing iiicility locateti in a large mitlwestern city tool; iiii innovative iil>proiich to storm water management. 11iii)loyees ilt ; )liilit with il large hicling statio11 noticed that during ;i raiii storm, the runoff flowing into the city s storm sewer systeni had ill1 oily sheen, coiised by spilled fuel. 1.0 prevcnt futore spills, the plant trililletl its drivers to avoid overfilling iicl tanks, laid tlowii sawdust aroiiiid the fueling statioii to absorb any iicciclental spills (tlie plant is careful not to \Viidl the sawdust down the drain), anti installed an oil/watcr sepiiriitor to reiiiove oil from tlic runoff before tlic riirioff enters tlic storm drain.