Stormwater Workshops

Workshop Part One: Stormwater Pollution Prevention
 

1. 1972 the Clean Water Act
   In 1972, Congress created the Clean Water Act (CWA) to address pollution that affects our nation's rivers, lakes and coastal waters. The central objective of the CWA is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and the biological integrity of the nation's waters.
    
2. Primary Sources of Stormwater Pollution
   Stormwater comes from precipitation. Stormwater that does not soak into the ground becomes runoff. Runoff becomes polluted as it runs along roads, parking lots, lawns and construction sites. Runoff contains pollutants such as:
    

   • Automobile Fluids
   • Fertilizers, Pesticides and Insecticides
   • Bacteria
   • Sediment
   • Litter
   • De-Icing Chemicals
   • Pet Waste

    
   Surface runoff flows into storm sewers that eventually flow into our streams, lakes and oceans.
    
3. Onsite Green Infrastructure Stormwater Practices
   Over the past 40 years since the Act was passed, the quality of our nation's waters has improved significantly. According to the USEPA, in 1972 only one third of our rivers, lakes and coastal waters was considered fishable and swimmable.
    
   Today, about two thirds of our waters are healthy. In recent years, engineers and landscape architects have developed new options to reduce pollutants from stormwater runoff through the use of:
    

   • Rain Gardens
   • Roof gardens
   • Wetland Gardens
   • Bio-Retention Ponds
   • Bioswales
   • Porous Pavements
   • Planter Boxes
   • Native Plants
    
4. What You Can Do Indoors To Save Water
    
   • Faucets: Install aerators on faucets and turn off the faucet while not in use.
      
   • Dripping and Leaking Faucets and Toilets: Replace dripping and leaking faucets and toilet fixtures. A slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons a day. Fix it and you will almost save 6,000 gallons a year.
      
   • Replace Shower Heads Install a low-flow shower head in school bathrooms. They are inexpensive and can pay for themselves in water, sewer and energy savings in less than a year. For a five (5) minute shower, you can reduce water usage from about 40 gallons to about 12 to 15 gallons.
      
   • Replace Old Appliances: Replace old appliances in kitchens with more efficient water saving and energy star rated appliances.
    
5. What You Can Do Outdoors To Save Water
   Outdoor water use accounts for almost half the water used and thus provides the single greatest opportunity for conserving water.
    

   • Watering Lawns and Gardens: When watering lawns and gardens in school yards, water on alternate mornings instead of every day. Water early in the morning, as early morning watering minimizes evaporation. Watering late in the day promotes fungus and other lawn diseases.
      
   • Mulching around Shrubs and Garden Plants: Use mulch around shrubs and garden plants to limit evaporation. Apply mulch to a minimum depth of four (4) inches. Mulch will help keep plant roots cool, prevent soil crusting, minimize soil erosion, and reduce weed growth. In addition to reducing watering during dry seasons, the mulch around shrubs will also promote the growth of microorganisms which are needed for healthy plant root growth.
      
   • Cutting Lawns: Do not mow lawns too short. Keep the grass height to 2 inches.
      
     Taller grass requires less water. Mowing fewer times will also save time and money.
      
   • Monitor Chemical Spills: Monitor chemical spills in school yards. If the spill is of a hazardous nature, such as gasoline, contact the fire department, so that the clean-up can be completed quickly and clean-up materials can be disposed appropriately.
      
   • Salt and De-Icing Chemicals: If your school utilizes sand, salt and de-icing chemicals during the winter season, these materials should be stored in a covered storage structure, to minimize the exposure of these materials to stormwater runoff. After the snow has melted, and before the first rainfall, sweep up unused sand and chemicals. Utilize the covered storage facility to recycle the swept materials.
      
   • Maintenance of Septic Systems: If the school utilizes a septic system, have the septic system inspected and cleaned at least every three years to reduce pathological contamination of our drinking water supplies
      
   • Disposal of Floor Cleaners: Do not dispose any floor cleaners into the storm drains. If necessary, store unused floor chemicals in a covered container, to be disposed at your local hazardous waste collection site.
    

Workshop Part Two: Training Program Review Questions
 

1. The Clean Water Act was introduced by Congress in 1972. Select your choice below:
   • True
   • False
2. The Clean Water Act addresses pollution from our nation's rivers, lakes and coastal water. Select your choice below:
   • True
   • False
3. Stormwater that does not soak into the ground becomes runoff. Select your choice below:
   • True
   • False
4. The primary sources of stormwater pollution are rain gardens, roof gardens and wetland gardens. Select your choice below:
   • True
   • False
5. You can save water outdoors by taking your car to a car wash. Select your choice below:
   • True
   • False
6. You can save water outdoors by watering early in the morning. Select your choice below:
   • True
   • False