Homeowners

Whether your home is in one of the older built-up boroughs of the county, in a new subdivision develoment, or isolated in a rural setting, many household activities can affect the health of our streams, rivers, and groundwater. In many cases, problems can arise when rainfall or snowmelt flows from or across our homesites and this runoff is contaminated or delivered too quickly to our smaller streams.

Storm Water: How Do Problems Arise?

Stormwater runoff occurs when precipitation from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and streets prevent stormwater from naturally soaking into the ground. Stormwater can pick up debris and trash, chemicals, sediment, oils and other pollutants that flow into our streams and rivers. Polluted stormwater runoff has many adverse impacts on plants, fish, animals and people. Sediment carried by runoff clouds the water blocking sunlight for aquatic plants and choking aquatic habitats needed for fish spawning and aquatic food organisms to live. Excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous compounds) carried by runoff cause algae blooms. When the algae die and decompose, oxygen is removed from the water. Fish and other aquatic organisms cannot live in waters with low dissolved oxygen levels.

Stormwater runoff can also carry bacteria and other disease-causing organisms that can create health hazards at swimming areas. Debris and litter carried by runoff can cause problems for animals such as ducks and turtles, as well as fish. Six-pack rings, plastic bags and bottles can entangle, choke, or choke these and other animals.

Household hazardous wastes such as pesticides, paint, solvents, used oil, and other auto fluids can enter runoff accidentally or be dumped into storm drains intentionally. Either way, these pollutants can poison aquatic life and people and land animals can become ill or worse from eating tainted fish or shellfish or drinking polluted water. Some communities in Bedford County use surface water for public drinking water systems and the problems associated with polluted runoff can increase treatment costs, or even make customers sick. Everyone can play a role in protecting our waters; keeping this resource safe for drinking and swimming, for recreation and agriculture, and for fish and wildlife.

In addition to the water quality problems associated with runoff mentioned above, the quantity of stormwater can cause problems. In wooded areas with natural vegetation, rainfall, even quite heavy downpours, do not necessarily result in a rapid increase in stream levels or in muddy water con-ditions. Vegetated stream banks and riparian areas reduce the impact of falling rain, promote infiltration into subsurface flow or groundwater, and filter any surface runoff that may occur. When landscapes are developed, the amount of impervious surface increases. Rooftops, driveways, streets, and parking lots prevent infiltration of rainfall and snow melt. Traditional management of this storm flow has been to dump this water into the nearest stream as quickly as possible. By this strategy, stormwater runoff raises stream levels rapidly and higher than natural runoff patterns and can result in more severe damage to streambanks and channels, causing flooding and sediment deposits that disrupt natural channels leading to future problems. Managing this storm water flow involves local municipalities that develop infrastructure to handle storm water as well as ordinances that influence how residential and commercial development impact storm water runoff. But every resident of our county can do their own small part to reduce runoff and the pollutants it can carry.

What Can You Do?

Stream Banks

Stream banks and the land zone next to a stream or river are important to clean healthy waters for people and wildlife. This riparian zone includes a stream, its banks, the surrounding flood plain and connecting wetlands. The best water quality and most stable stream banks and channels are found in natural, undisturbed forest areas. The root structure of trees, shrubs and other vegetation naturally found along streams act like rebar to strengthen soil structure and prevent erosion and stream bank collapse. Establishing mowed lawns to the edge of water usually results in stability problems and loss of stream bank. Armoring the banks with rip rap, concrete walls, or rock-filled gabion baskets is an expensive solution that often leads to problems at downstream locations or eventual failure.

Streamside buffers consisting of native plants and trees offer great rewards for landowners and the environment. Buffers can increase property values, impove privacy and tranquility, stabilize banks and prevent erosion, reduce flooding and damage during storms, filter sediment and pollutatnts from runoff ,provide shade for you and fish, create a colorful landscape, and attract birds and wildlife. Click here for a link to a sight with more information about backyard buffers.

Lawn and Yard Maintenance

Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides on lawns and gardens can result in the unused chemicals washing off into storm sewers and streams. Grass clippings, yard waste and leaves will add excess nutrients and can clog storm sewer systems.

Don't overwater you lawn. Consider a soaker hose rather than a sprinkler.

Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly and always follow label instructions for application methods and amount. Use organic mulch and non-chemical pest control methods whenever possible.

Compost or mulch yard waste. Do not into storm drains or deposit in or near streams.

Cover soil or waste piles and disturbed areas with tarps or mulch to prevent sediment erosion carried by runoff.

Landscaping

Designing a home landscape that uses a minmal amount of water and encourages infiltration rather than runoff does not have to start at construction. Many practices can be adapted to existing sites

Rain barrels collect water from rooftops; water that can be later used for lawns or gardens. Rain barrels can be purchased complete, as kits or as do-it-yourself projects from available materials. Be sure the barrel is mosquito-proof. An Acrobat version of a handout for building your own rain barrel, produced by the South River Federation and the Center for Watershed Protection is available here.

Rain gardens are designed with native plants and provide natural places for rainwarer to collect and soak into the ground. Rain from gutters and paved areas can be diverted to these sites. Filter strips along driveways and parking areas also trap pollutants that may be picked up as water flows across these impervious surfaces. Guidelines for constructing a rain garden can be found on the reverse of the rain barrel sheet available above and here.

Permeable pavement is an alternative to traditional concrete and asphalt that allows water to soak in rather than run off.

Grassy swales area alternatives to pipes and concrete channels that allow infiltration while still providing conveyance of storm water to a wetland area or stream channel. Filtration of sediment is also possible. For larger drainages and potentially heavier flow, some method of reinforcing the turf grass plantings may be needed.

Waste Management

Household waste is best managed with weekly trash collection. Backyard burning, even where not prohibited, is a source of air pollutants and household 'dumps' or private landfills are illegal and a source of pollution to surface and ground water.

Pet waste can be a significant source of bacteria and other pathogens. Do not allow pet waste to accumulate on sidewalks or in yards where storm water runoff can carry these pollutants to our streams. Pet waste can be flushed, or deposited in special digesters that minimize health risks.

On-lot septic systems must be maintained properly to minimize the chances of pollution. Leaking and unmaintained systems can release nutrients and pathogens into nearby waters causing public health and environmental concerns.

Inspect septic systems every three years and pump as necessary.

Do not dispose of household hazardous waste in sinks and toilets.

Household Chemicals

Many chemicals used around our homes can have injurous effects on life in streams, rivers, and lakes. Furthermore, dumping many of these compounds into toilets or drains can damage or otherwise effect the performance of septic systems and municipal sewage systems. Also check the label for proper disposal instructions or call your municipal authority or the Conservation Distrcit concerning disposal options. The District's recycling program conducts household hazardous waste disposal programs on a biannual schedule.

Vehicle Maintenance

Washing your car and degreasing parts at home can send contaminants to storm sewers. Dumping automotive fluids in storm sewers sends these pollutants to our streams and rivers

Use commercial car washes where wastewater is treated or recycled. If you must wash your car at home, do it over an unpaved part of your yard so the water infiltrates rather than flows into storm sewers or streams.

Reapir fluid leaks and dispose of auto fluids and batteries at designated drop-offs or recycling centers. Click here for a list of sites that accept used motor oil in Bedford County

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