IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Spring 2016 | Page 60

REDUCING RUNOFF
Clean Water is Every Baldwin Resident’s Responsibility
The next time it rains or when the snow starts melting with the
approach of spring, take a look outside. You will see water trickling
over your lawn, down your driveway, and into the street.
To some, this may be a calming sight. However, for those who
know about runoff, this is an alarming event because as the water
flows over land, it picks up debris, chemicals, dirt, and other
pollutants and carries them to nearby streams, rivers, and storm
sewer systems. There, the runoff is discharged, untreated, into the
water we all use for swimming, fishing, and drinking.
As a result, stormwater runoff is one of the greatest threats to
our water supply. You can be pa rt of the solution by practicing
healthy household habits that can keep common pollutants,
including pesticides, pet waste, grass clippings, and automotive
fluids, off the ground and out of the water.

2 LAWN AND GARDEN
• Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly. When use is necessary,
follow the guidelines for the recommended amounts. Also,
avoid application if the forecast calls for rain; otherwise
chemicals will be washed into local streams.
• Select native plants and grasses that are drought and pest

resistant. Native plants require less water, fertilizer, and
pesticides.
• Sweep up yard debris, rather than hosing down areas, and

compost or recycle yard waste when possible.
• Don’t overwater your lawn and only water during the cool

times of day. In addition, don’t let the water run into the storm

drain. Cover piles of dirt and mulch that are being used

for landscaping projects to prevent pollutants from blowing

or washing off your yard and into local waterways. Also,

vegetate bare spots in your yard to prevent soil erosion.

3 HOME REPAIR & IMPROVEMENT

We’ve pulled together some suggestions to help get you
started:

1 VEHICLE AND GARAGE

aldwin

BAL DWI N BO ROU G H N E WS

• Use a commercial car wash or wash your car on a lawn or

other unpaved surface to minimize the amount of dirty, soapy

water flowing into the storm drain and, eventually, local water
sources.
• Check your car, motorcycle, and other machinery for leaks

and spills. Make repairs as soon as possible. Be sure to clean

up any spilled fluids with an absorbent material, such as kitty

litter or sand, and remember – don’t rinse the spill into the

storm drain. Instead, dispose of the absorbent material
properly.

What is stormwater runoff?
Stormwater runoff is precipitation that flows across the
land and could potentially infiltrate the soil, discharge into
waterways or drain inlets, or evaporate into the atmosphere.
In the natural environment, most precipitation is
absorbed by trees and plants or permeates the ground,
which results in stable stream flows and good water quality.
However, in the built environment, rain that falls on a roof,
driveway, patio, or lawn runs off the surface more rapidly,
picking up pollutants on its way to a stream or storm sewer.

For more information visit:
www.baldwinborough.org/247
58 Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall

• Before beginning an outdoor project, look around for the
nearest storm drains, and be sure to protect them from
debris and other materials. Sweep up and properly dispose of
construction debris, such as concrete and mortar.
• Use the smallest amount possible of hazardous substances,
such as paint, solvents, and cleaners, and make sure you
follow the directions on the label. Clean spills immediately
and dispose of the waste safely. Store substances properly to
avoid leaks and spills.
• Purchase and use nontoxic, biodegradable, recycled, and
recyclable products whenever possible.
• Clean paint brushes in an indoor sink, not outside. Unused
paint can be donated to local organizations.
• Reduce the paved areas and increase the vegetated areas
in your yard. Homeowners should also consider directing
downspouts away from paved surfaces and onto
vegetated areas.

Why can stormwater runoff be a problem?
Poorly managed stormwater runoff can cause a host of
issues, including:
Flooding – As stormwater runs off impervious surfaces,
large volumes can reach streams quickly, causing them to rise
and flood. When more impervious surfaces exist, flooding
occurs more rapidly and can be more severe, damaging
people and property.
Pollution – Stormwater running over roofs, driveways,
roads, and lawns will pick up pollutants, such as oil, fertilizers,
pesticides, dirt/sediment, trash, and animal waste. These
pollutants “hitch a ride” with the stormwater and flow
untreated into local streams, polluting the water.
Streambank Erosion – When stormwater flows into
streams at unnaturally high volumes and speeds, the power
of these flows can severely erode the banks, which creates
dangerous situations and damages natural habitats for
fish and other aquatic life. This erosion is another source of
sediment pollution in streams.