What is stormwater runoff?

Why is stormwater runoff a problem?

The effects of pollution

Stormwater runoff occurs when precipitation

from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground.

Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks,

and streets prevent stormwater from

naturally soaking into the ground.

Stormwater can pick up debris, chemicals, dirt, and other

pollutants and flow into a storm sewer system or directly to

a lake, stream, river, wetland, or coastal water. Anything that

enters a storm sewer system is discharged untreated into

the waterbodies we use for swimming, fishing, and providing

drinking water.

Polluted stormwater runoff can have

many adverse effects on plants, fish,

animals, and people.

Sediment can cloud the water

and make it difficult or

impossible for aquatic plants to

grow. Sediment also can

.



destroy aquatic habitats

Excess nutrients can cause

algae blooms. When algae die,

they sink to the bottom and decompose

in a process that removes oxygen from

the water. Fish and other aquatic

organisms can’t exist in water with low

dissolved oxygen levels.

Bacteria and other pathogens can wash

into swimming areas and create health

hazards, often making beach closures

necessary.

Debris—plastic bags, six-pack rings, bottles, and

cigarette butts—washed into waterbodies can choke, suffocate, or

disable aquatic life like ducks, fish, turtles, and birds.

Household hazardous wastes like insecticides, pesticides, paint,

solvents, used motor oil, and other auto fluids can poison aquatic life.

Land animals and people can become sick or die from eating diseased

fish and shellfish or ingesting polluted water.

Polluted stormwater often

affects drinking water

sources. This, in turn, can

affect human health and

increase drinking water

treatment costs.











After the Storm

EPA 833-B-03-002

January 2003

For more information contact:

or visit

www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater

www.epa.gov/nps

A Citizen’s Guide to

Understanding Stormwater

WHEN IT RAINS

IT DRAINS

WHEN IT RAINS

IT DRAINS Internet Address (URL) HTTP://www.epa.gov

Recycled/Recyclable Printed With Vegetable

Oil Based Inks on 100% Postconsumer,

Process Chlorine Free Recycled Paper

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Auto care

Washing your car and

degreasing auto parts at home

can send detergents and other

contaminants through the

storm sewer system. Dumping

automotive fluids into storm

drains has the same result as

dumping the materials directly

into a waterbody.

Pet waste

Pet waste can be

a major source of

bacteria and

excess nutrients

in local waters.

 When walking

your pet,

remember to pick up the

waste and dispose of it

properly. Flushing pet

waste is the best disposal

method. Leaving pet waste

on the ground increases

public health risks by

allowing harmful bacteria

and nutrients to wash into

the storm drain and

eventually into local

waterbodies.

Septic

systems

Leaking and

poorly

maintained

septic

systems release nutrients and

pathogens (bacteria and

viruses) that can be picked up

by stormwater and discharged

into nearby waterbodies.

Pathogens can cause public

health problems and

environmental concerns.

Lawn care

Excess fertilizers

and pesticides

applied to lawns

and gardens wash

off and pollute

streams. In

addition, yard

clippings and

leaves can wash

into storm drains and contribute

nutrients and organic matter to streams.

Education is essential to changing people's behavior.

Signs and markers near storm drains warn residents

that pollutants entering the drains will be carried

untreated into a local waterbody. Recycle or properly dispose of household products that

contain chemicals, such as insecticides, pesticides, paint,

solvents, and used motor oil and other auto fluids.

Don’t pour them onto the ground or into storm drains.





Use a commercial car wash that treats or

recycles its wastewater, or wash your car on

your yard so the water infiltrates into the

ground.

Repair leaks and dispose of used auto fluids

and batteries at designated drop-off or

recycling locations.









Don’t overwater your lawn. Consider

using a soaker hose instead of a

sprinkler.

Use pesticides and fertilizers

sparingly. When use is necessary, use

these chemicals in the recommended

amounts. Use organic mulch or safer

pest control methods whenever

possible.

Compost or mulch yard waste. Don’t

leave it in the street or sweep it into

storm drains or streams.

Cover piles of dirt or mulch being

used in landscaping projects.





Inspect your system every

3 years and pump your

tank as necessary (every 3

to 5 years).

Don't dispose of

household hazardous

waste in sinks or toilets.

Dirt, oil, and debris that collect in

parking lots and paved areas can be

washed into the storm sewer system

and eventually enter local

waterbodies.







Sweep up litter and debris from

sidewalks, driveways and parking lots,

especially around storm drains.

Cover grease storage and dumpsters

and keep them clean to avoid leaks.

Report any chemical spill to the local

hazardous waste cleanup team.

They’ll know the best way to keep

spills from harming the environment.

Erosion controls that aren’t maintained can cause

excessive amounts of sediment and debris to be

carried into the stormwater system. Construction

vehicles can leak fuel, oil, and other harmful fluids

that can be picked up by stormwater and

deposited into local waterbodies.







Divert stormwater away from disturbed or

exposed areas of the construction site.

Install silt fences, vehicle mud removal areas,

vegetative cover, and other sediment and

erosion controls and properly maintain them,

especially after rainstorms.

Prevent soil erosion by minimizing disturbed

areas during construction projects, and seed

and mulch bare areas as soon as possible.

Uncovered fueling stations allow spills to be

washed into storm drains. Cars waiting to be

repaired can leak fuel, oil, and other harmful

fluids that can be picked up by stormwater.









Clean up spills immediately and properly

dispose of cleanup materials.

Provide cover over fueling stations and

design or retrofit facilities for spill

containment.

Properly maintain fleet vehicles to prevent

oil, gas, and other discharges from being

washed into local waterbodies.

Install and maintain oil/water separators.

Lack of vegetation on streambanks can lead to erosion. Overgrazed pastures can also

contribute excessive amounts of sediment to local waterbodies. Excess fertilizers and

pesticides can poison aquatic animals and lead to destructive algae blooms. Livestock in

streams can contaminate waterways with bacteria, making them unsafe for human contact.











Keep livestock away from streambanks and provide

them a water source away from waterbodies.

Store and apply manure away from waterbodies and in

accordance with a nutrient management plan.

Vegetate riparian areas along waterways.

Rotate animal grazing to prevent soil erosion in fields.

Apply fertilizers and pesticides according to label

instructions to save money and minimize pollution.

Permeable Pavement

Rain Barrels

Rain Gardens and

Grassy Swales

Vegetated Filter Strips

—Traditional concrete and

asphalt don’t allow water to soak into the ground.

Instead these surfaces rely on storm drains to

divert unwanted water. Permeable pavement

systems allow rain and snowmelt to soak through,

decreasing stormwater runoff.

—You can

collect rainwater from

rooftops in mosquitoproof containers. The

water can be used later on

lawn or garden areas.

—Specially

designed areas planted

with native plants can provide natural places for

rainwater to collect

and soak into the

ground. Rain from

rooftop areas or paved

areas can be diverted

into these areas rather

than into storm drains.

—Filter strips are areas of

native grass or plants created along roadways or

streams. They trap the pollutants stormwater

picks up as it flows across driveways and streets.

Residential landscaping

Improperly managed logging operations can result in erosion and

sedimentation.











Conduct preharvest planning to prevent erosion and lower costs.

Use logging methods and equipment that minimize soil disturbance.

Plan and design skid trails, yard areas, and truck access roads to

minimize stream crossings and avoid disturbing the forest floor.

Construct stream crossings so that they minimize erosion and physical

changes to streams.

Expedite revegetation of cleared areas.

Commercial

Stormwater Pollution Solutions

Construction

Agriculture Automotive

Facilities

Forestry