Stream Pollution: Preventing The Unseen Threat

Stormwater pollution occurs when rain and snowmelt wash pollutants from streets, construction sites, and land into storm sewers and ditches. This can cause the overgrowth of algae, resulting in oxygen depletion in waterways, and can also threaten water quality and kill fish and other aquatic life. To prevent stormwater pollution, it is important to maintain a clean and organised facility, properly maintain your neighbourhood stormwater pond, and install a rain barrel or cistern to capture roof runoff.

Maintain your septic system and stormwater pond

Maintaining your septic system and stormwater pond is crucial to preventing stream pollution. A leaking septic system can leach harmful bacteria into storm sewer systems and local waterways, causing significant environmental damage.

To maintain your septic system, it is important to regularly inspect and service it. This includes checking for any leaks or blockages and ensuring that all pipes and connections are in good condition. If you notice any issues, it is essential to address them promptly to prevent further problems and costly repairs.

Another critical aspect of septic system maintenance is proper waste disposal. This means ensuring that only appropriate materials are flushed down the drain or toilet. Items such as grease, oil, and chemicals should never be poured down the drain, as they can cause blockages and contaminate the system.

Maintaining your stormwater pond is equally important in preventing stream pollution. Stormwater ponds are designed to capture and treat stormwater runoff, which can contain pollutants such as sediment, nutrients, and chemicals. Regular maintenance of your stormwater pond includes activities such as removing debris, controlling aquatic vegetation, and ensuring proper water flow.

By implementing these maintenance practices for your septic system and stormwater pond, you can play a vital role in protecting local waterways from pollution. These actions help to ensure that harmful substances do not enter the water, preserving the health of aquatic ecosystems and the safety of those who enjoy recreational activities in and around the water.

Pick up after your dog

Picking up after your dog is an important way to prevent stream pollution. Dog waste can contain harmful bacteria, which can wash into storm sewers and ditches and eventually end up in streams and rivers. This can make waterways unsafe for wading, swimming and fish consumption. It can also contribute to the overgrowth of algae, which depletes oxygen levels in the water.

To prevent this type of pollution, it is important to always pick up after your dog when walking them. This means carrying a bag with you at all times and being prepared to scoop up any waste. There are many types of dog waste bags available, including biodegradable options, which are better for the environment.

If you are unable to pick up your dog's waste immediately, you should mark the spot and return to it later with a bag. You can also invest in a pooper scooper, which makes it easier to pick up waste, especially if you have a large dog. It is also important to dispose of dog waste properly. Do not flush it down the toilet, as this can contribute to sewer system pollution. Instead, throw it away in a trash can.

You can also help to prevent stream pollution by volunteering for cleanup events and educating others about the importance of picking up after their dogs. This includes friends, family, and neighbours who may not be aware of the impact of dog waste on water quality. By working together, we can keep our streams and rivers healthy and safe for everyone to enjoy.

Don't pour or dump anything into a storm drain

Stormwater pollution occurs when rain and snowmelt wash pollutants from streets, construction sites and land into storm sewers and ditches. These empty directly into streams and rivers without treatment, degrading lakes, rivers, wetlands and other waterways. Nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen can cause the overgrowth of algae, resulting in oxygen depletion in waterways.

To prevent stormwater pollution, it is important to remember that only rain should go down a storm drain. Do not pour or dump anything into a storm drain. This is prohibited by the City Code in many places, including Portland, where storm drains flow directly into a river or stream.

Dumping harmful substances into storm drains can have a detrimental impact on fish and other aquatic life. Toxic substances from motor vehicles, pesticides and fertilisers can threaten water quality and kill fish. Bacteria from animal waste and leaking septic systems can also make lakes and waterways unsafe for wading, swimming and fish consumption.

To prevent stormwater pollution, it is important to maintain a clean and organised facility. This includes properly maintaining your neighbourhood stormwater pond, which is designed to capture and treat stormwater runoff. You can also install a rain barrel or cistern to capture roof runoff, reducing the amount of stormwater that reaches waterways and the potential for pollution.

Avoid using pesticides and fertilisers

Preventing stream pollution is important for the health of our rivers, lakes, and aquatic life. One way to do this is by avoiding the use of pesticides and fertilisers. These products can be toxic to fish and other aquatic life and can also cause oxygen depletion in waterways due to the overgrowth of algae.

To avoid using pesticides, you can try natural alternatives such as using beneficial insects, birds, or other organisms to control pests. For example, ladybugs can be used to control aphids, and birds can be encouraged to nest in your garden to help control insect populations. You can also try physical barriers, such as row covers or netting, to protect your plants from pests.

Another option is to use integrated pest management (IPM), which is an approach that focuses on long-term prevention of pests through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and resistant varieties. IPM can be used in agriculture, gardens, and homes to reduce the need for pesticides.

When it comes to fertilisers, you can try using compost or manure to provide nutrients to your plants instead of synthetic fertilisers. Compost can be made at home by collecting organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, and allowing it to decompose over time. This process creates a nutrient-rich material that can be added to your soil to improve its health and fertility. Manure can also be obtained from local farms or stables and added to your soil to provide nutrients for plant growth.

Additionally, you can focus on improving your soil health by practising techniques such as cover cropping, crop rotation, and no-till farming. Cover crops, such as legumes, can add nitrogen to the soil and improve its structure, while crop rotation can help to control pests and diseases and maintain soil fertility. No-till farming involves disturbing the soil as little as possible, which can help to prevent erosion and maintain soil health. By implementing these practices, you can reduce your reliance on fertilisers and create a more sustainable and healthy ecosystem.

Educate employees on the effects of stormwater pollution

Educating employees on the effects of stormwater pollution is an important step in keeping our waterways clean. Employees should be made aware of the potential sources of stormwater pollution and the best management practices to minimise it. For example, employees should know that rain and snowmelt wash pollutants from streets, construction sites, and land into storm sewers and ditches, which then empty polluted stormwater directly into streams and rivers with no treatment. This degrades our lakes, rivers, wetlands and other waterways. Nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen can cause the overgrowth of algae, resulting in oxygen depletion in waterways.

Toxic substances from motor vehicles and pesticides and fertilisers can threaten water quality and kill fish and other aquatic life. Bacteria from animal waste and leaking septic systems can also make lakes and waterways unsafe for wading, swimming and fish consumption. Employees should be aware of the company's expectations regarding good housekeeping practices and storage to help prevent stormwater pollution.

Employee training programs can teach employees about potential sources of stormwater pollution and the best management practices to minimise it. Training can be integrated with existing programs such as safety meetings, which may be required for your business by other regulations. Educating employees on the effects of stormwater pollution can help to ensure that everyone is working towards the same goal of keeping our waterways clean.

In addition to employee education, there are several other ways to prevent stormwater pollution. These include maintaining a clean and organised facility, properly maintaining your neighbourhood stormwater pond, and installing a rain barrel or cistern to capture roof runoff. By following these practices and educating employees, we can work together to protect our rivers, streams, and watersheds from the harmful effects of stormwater pollution.

Frequently asked questions