MONROE COUNTY SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
  • HOME
  • CONSERVATION
  • RESOURCES
  • THE TOOL SHED
  • EDUCATION
  • CONTRACTORS AND CONSULTANTS
  • THE BUSINESS
    • Mission, Vision & Structure
    • Board Meetings & Agendas
    • Meeting Minutes
    • District History >
      • MCSWCD Original Documents
    • PAST SUPERVISORS
    • Supervisors Roles & Responsibilites
  • CONNECT WITH US
    • Lastest News and Information
    • Request Resource Information
    • Technical Assistance Request
  • CALENDAR & EVENTS
  • Community Partnerships

Blog

Nature Files Episode 3: Stormwater

5/3/2021

0 Comments

 
You’ve probably heard the saying “April Showers Bring may Flowers!”, but spring downpours bring us something else too: Stormwater.

Stormwater is runoff from rain events. When it flows over impervious surfaces, or the rain is too heavy to soak into the ground it lands on, we direct it into surface waters. Most counties or towns control stormwater through Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) which are the systems of gutters, drainage ditches, storm drains, etc used to carry stormwater to streams, lakes, creeks, and rivers. MS4s have to include a large amount of infrastructure, because there is a lot of stormwater to deal with! To get perspective on just how much water we’re talking about, consider the fact that 1” of rain over only 1 acre of land is equivalent to 27,154 gallons of water weighing 113 tons!

So why worry about stormwater? Because unfortunately stormwater can pick up just about everything it flows over before it gets to our surface waters. Stormwater contributes to sediment pollution, the number 1 pollutant in surface waters, but it can also pick up trash, oils, grease, chemicals from building or cars, pesticides, pet wastes, and more.

You can help protect our waters though! Here are a few simple ways you can help prevent stormwater pollution:
  • Pick up trash and litter
  • Avoid lawn treatments and pesticides whenever possible
  • Compost lawn clippings and leaves
  • Wash vehicles at car washes (Car washes divert waters into sewer systems with water treatments)
  • Decrease plastic use
  • Consider implementing rain barrels or rain gardens
0 Comments

    MCSWCD

    Here you'll find our blog posts relating to conservation, soil health, and Monroe County!

    Archives

    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    November 2018

    Categories

    All
    Solar

    RSS Feed

  • HOME
  • CONSERVATION
  • RESOURCES
  • THE TOOL SHED
  • EDUCATION
  • CONTRACTORS AND CONSULTANTS
  • THE BUSINESS
    • Mission, Vision & Structure
    • Board Meetings & Agendas
    • Meeting Minutes
    • District History >
      • MCSWCD Original Documents
    • PAST SUPERVISORS
    • Supervisors Roles & Responsibilites
  • CONNECT WITH US
    • Lastest News and Information
    • Request Resource Information
    • Technical Assistance Request
  • CALENDAR & EVENTS
  • Community Partnerships