Stormwater 101:What you can do to improve
Stormwater Quality
Katherine A. Lewis
June 28, 2008
Water Basics
All of the water we have is all the water we will EVER have.
Water is essential to life
Watershed
The land area from which surface runoff drains into a stream channel, lake reservoir or other body of water.
Georgia’s Major Watersheds
DeKalb’s Major Watersheds
Stormwater Management
Stormwater Management cont.
Nonpoint source pollution
Erosion Sediment Fertilizers, pesticides Leaking septic systems Runoff from roads and
parking lots Illicit spills and illegal
dumping
How Healthy Is Our Water?
Much better than 30 years ago
Federal regulations– Clean Water Act 1972– Safe Drinking Water
Act of 1974
How Healthy Is Our Water?
Local regulations– MNGWPD Plans
• Wastewater• Water Supply• Watershed
Always room for improvement
Simple Pollution Prevention: Automotive
Use a commercial car wash Check your car for leaks
– Repair them quickly
Absorb spilled fluids with kitty litter or sand
Recycle used automotive fluids
Simple Pollution Prevention: Home Repair/ Improvement
Use paints, solvents, and cleaners in the smallest amount possible
Clean paint brushes in a sink, not outdoors*
Dispose of excess paint through a collection program or through donation
Simple Pollution Prevention: Lawn and Garden
Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly
Select native plants and grasses that are drought and pest resistant
Sweep up yard debris rather than blowing it down the storm drain
Simple Pollution Prevention
Pick up pet waste and dispose of it properly
Have your septic system inspected every 3-5 years and pumped if necessary
Spread the word about pollution prevention
TEST YOURWATER
KNOWLEDGE
What percentage of the human body is water?
A. 33%
B. 45%
C. 66%
D. 85%
Drinking 5 glasses of water daily can decrease the risk
of . . .A. colon cancer by 45%
B. breast cancer by 79%
C. bladder cancer by 50%
D. all of the above
How much water does an individual use at home
daily?A. 20 Gallons
B. 50 Gallons
C. 100 Gallons
D. 120 Gallons
How much water does it take to make a car?
A. 600 Gallons
B. 9,500 Gallons
C. 26,000 Gallons
D. 39,000 Gallons
How much of the Earth’s water is suitable for
drinking?
A. 1%
B. 15%
C. 50%
D. 85%
What is DeKalb County’s drinking water source?
A. Chattahoochee River
B. Lake Sydney Lanier
C. Peachtree Creek
D. It just appears in my home
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