Contaminants
As it rains, the stormwater runs over streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and yards picking up pollution such as:
- Brake fluid
- Fertilizer
- Garbage
- Grease
- Herbicides
- Oil
- Pesticides
This untreated stormwater pollution travels into the stormwater system for treatment via gutters, swales, ditches, and pipes and eventually ends up in a natural system like a wetland, lake, river, or the aquifer. Stormwater increases as impervious (non-porous) surfaces increase. Saturated lawns from overwatering or heavy rain events can also act as an impervious surface.
Control Measures
Examples of City activities to control stormwater pollution:
- Controlling construction site erosion.
- Distributing educational materials to the public.
- Inspecting the storm sewer system to find and eliminate pollution sources.
- Sweeping streets, cleaning catch basins and labeling storm drains.