We are all acutely aware of the damage caused by flooding after major storms such as Superstorm Sandy. Most of us, however, do not think about the effects ordinary rain events – even gentle showers – can have on our streams and rivers. Although our mental images of rain may include fond memories of running through a warm summer shower as a child, splashing through puddles and trying to catch drops on our tongues, the ultimate effect of that rainwater may actually be harmful to our streams and rivers.
As rain or melted snow makes its way through our gutters, down our streets and sidewalks, and over our fertilized fields, it picks up dirt, motor oil, pet droppings, fertilizer, cigarette butts, candy wrappers, and anything else that might be in its path. Many of our municipal storm sewer systems do not treat stormwater, so all the pollution the rainwater has collected runs into the streams and rivers in which we fish, boat, and swim, and from which we obtain much of our drinking water. In fact, according to estimates, 3,000 miles of Pennsylvania streams are polluted by stormwater runoff alone.
We all know that we can’t stop the rain, so what can we do to help protect our water? First, there are many small things that we can do in our everyday lives. These include properly disposing of products including motor oil or pesticides that contain harmful chemicals; using lawn fertilizers sparingly and only when necessary; and cleaning up after our pets.
On a larger scale, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in the process of drafting standards that would modernize its approach to stormwater. These standards should encourage "green design," which seeks to maximize the amount of stormwater controlled on the site where the rain falls, keeping it – and the pollutants it carries – out of the storm sewer system, and thus out of our waterways.
Unfortunately, EPA’s draft rules are long overdue.
A campaign launched in August encourages citizens to ask their representatives in Congress to pressure EPA to publish these overdue rules. There is still time for you to lend your voice to that campaign. The organization American Rivers has developed tools that will make it easy for you to contact your representatives in Congress. Go to http://www.americanrivers.org/blog/tell-epa-not-delay-protect-clean-water/, and make your voice heard!
