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DIFFUSE’A PALOOZA
Storm Water Pollution is the leading cause of water
contamination nation wide!
Urban and suburban areas are covered by solid
surfaces including roads, sidewalks, and parking lots; rooftops of
buildings and other structures; compacted soils such as dirt parking
lots, walking paths, baseball fields and suburban lawns don’t allow rain
to penetrate the earth and replenish natural ground water levels.
Instead, it all rushes to our rivers and oceans filling them with
toxins.
Here's why you
shouldn't surf during rainstorms!
The natural cycle of the rain filtration through
the earth is ruined. Instead, this
cloudy, dirty rush of water quickly runs directly into storm drains,
ditches, and streams, all without the benefit of filtration. As
rainwater moves across impervious roof tops, asphalt, and compacted
lawns, it picks up an unhealthy brew of sediment and chemicals.
Collecting quantities of motor oils, antifreeze, gasoline, toxic
brake dust, fertilizers and pesticides from lawns and gardens, cleaners,
pool chemicals, animal waste, litter and anything else that will float
or dissolve in water along the way.
Storm water discharges dramatically affect water
quality. Rainwater transports all these contaminants to our bodies of
water. This leads to the closure of many local beaches, diminishing fish
population, algae blooms, and other harms to us and our environment.
The Federal Government has enforced the “CLEAN
WATER ACT” to diffuse sources of pollution.
The EPA had directed every state to construct plans of restoring
their most (not all) damaged waters.
TIPS to better manage storm water
- Install pervious pavement- It will allow to
percolate back into the ground.
- Incorporate Detention Ponds into the
landscape- they will try to mimic natural patterns of water flow.
- Create a rain garden
- It will naturally filter runoff from the roof.
- Build Soak-away Pit or Drywell - to
absorb water back into the ground instead of letting it rush to the
street
- Develop a designated carwash site in the
neighborhood.
- Clean up after your pet.
- Give your beautiful lawns a fertilizer break.
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