Dr. Karen Bell

Keep Liberty Beautiful

Twice a month, Keep Liberty Beautiful engages in environmental activities with the after-school program for Dream Builders and the Boys and Girls Club. This month, our focus is on beach cleanups and stormwater drains. 

The children’s reactions are priceless as they discover the appearance and function of a storm drain for the first time. Have you ever wondered what those little drain holes are for in sidewalks and next to streets? Many people often incorrectly assume that they are part of a sewer system. They are actually storm sewer drains. A sanitary sewer system and a storm sewer system are not the same. Water that goes down a sink, toilet, or other drain flows to either a wastewater treatment plant or to a septic system for treatment. Storm sewer flows are not treated.

Water that flows down driveways, streets, and outside areas into a storm sewer or ditch can end up directly in nearby creeks, fish and wildlife habitats, downstream recreational areas, and drinking water supplies.

When litter is dropped on the pavement or intentionally dumped in a storm drain, it doesn’t just disappear. It ends up in our waterways, carried by stormwater down the drain. This stormwater, which is rain that doesn’t soak into the ground, becomes a carrier of animal waste, litter, salt, pesticides, fertilizers, oil and grease, soil, and other potential pollutants. The rain washes these pollutants from streets, construction sites, and land into storm sewers and ditches.

Eventually, this polluted stormwater is emptied directly into streams and rivers without treatment, creating stormwater pollution and a host of environmental problems.

Stormwater pollution is not just a problem, it’s a serious threat to our waterways. It degrades our lakes, rivers, wetlands, and other water bodies. Nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen can cause algae overgrowth, leading to oxygen depletion in waterways. This underlines the urgent need to address stormwater pollution.

Toxic substances from motor vehicles can damage water quality. The overuse of pesticides and fertilizers also threatens water quality and can kill fish and other aquatic life. Bacteria from animal wastes and improper connections to storm sewer systems can make lakes and waterways unsafe for wading, swimming, and fish consumption.

Wind-blown soil from construction sites is a pollutant as well. It clouds the waterway and interferes with the habitat of fish and plant life. Here are a few ways that you can prevent stormwater pollution:

 1. Don’t ever dump anything down storm drains. Be sure to clear away leaves and debris, and don’t intentionally dump your leaves and grass clippings in the drain.

2. Wash your car with biodegradable or phosphate-free soap over your lawn or gravel. Alternatively, you can use a commercial car wash where wastewater is either recycled or treated.

3. Keep your car well-maintained. Fix any fluid leaks promptly and clean up any spills.

4. Plant a rain garden to absorb stormwater runoff. You can also use a rain barrel to collect runoff from your roof and gutters and use it on your lawn and garden.

5. Use lawn and garden chemicals sparingly. Try organics options.

6. Mow the lawn less often. Avoid overwatering your landscape to minimize runoff. Keep your lawn at least 3 inches in height to minimize weed growth, reduce the need for watering, and decrease the likelihood of pests. Leaving the clippings on the lawn can also help block weeds and retain moisture.

7. Sweep your sidewalks and driveway rather than hosing them down.

8. Plant native, low-maintenance plants and grasses.

9. Clean up pet waste and dispose of it in the trash.

10. Consider minimizing impervious surfaces around your home. Use bricks, gravel, cobbles, natural stone, or permeable pavers instead of asphalt or concrete when possible.

11. Keep your septic system well-maintained to prevent leaks. It can leach harmful bacteria We have Rivers Alive cleanups coming up to help keep our waterways clear and to pick up litter before it goes down the storm drain. We invite you to join us in our cleanups, as your involvement is crucial in our mission to protect our environment.

Join us on September 28 for Gerogia’s Your State Parks Day at Fort Morris State Historic Site in Liberty County from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. So, plan now to make a difference by contacting us at Keep Liberty Beautiful, call 880-4888 or email klcb@coastalnow.net.

And remember, only rain down the drain!