Improving River Water Quality: Strategies To Combat Pollution

Rivers are suffering from poor water quality, pollution, habitat loss, and flow problems. These issues are caused by economic development, abstraction to provide tap water, urbanization, and deforestation. To improve river water quality, we can implement solutions such as efficient wastewater treatment, green agriculture, stormwater management, and air pollution prevention. Community involvement is crucial, with initiatives like river restoration, watershed planning, and reducing sewage overflow. Additionally, we can address industrial waste, agricultural chemicals, and runoff from roads and buildings.

Reduce sewage and stormwater pollution

Despite improvements to collection and treatment infrastructure, sewage and stormwater remain the largest source of pollution in many rivers. Sewage and stormwater pollution is caused by rainwater or melted snow that does not soak into the ground, instead flowing from rooftops, paved areas, bare soil, and sloped lawns. As it flows, stormwater runoff collects and transports animal waste, litter, salt, pesticides, fertilizers, oil, grease, soil, and other potential pollutants.

To reduce sewage and stormwater pollution, it is important to minimize the risk of sewage overflow. This can be achieved by reducing infiltration and inflow in sewer collection systems, such as by implementing an insurance program for property owners to maintain and repair sewer leader lines. Maximizing the use of green infrastructure, such as green roofs, streetside bioswales, and urban forests, can also help to slow down and absorb stormwater runoff, allowing plants to filter out pollutants as the water slowly infiltrates the ground.

Additionally, stormwater management practices can be implemented to reduce runoff and improve water quality. This includes inspecting outfalls under MS4 programs to detect illicit discharges from sanitary sewers and testing water quality. Forming a stormwater district and implementing a stormwater fee can provide a dedicated source of funding for the necessary infrastructure improvements.

At the individual level, there are several ways to prevent stormwater pollution. Maintaining your neighborhood stormwater pond and installing a rain barrel or cistern can help capture and treat stormwater runoff. Using harvested rainwater for watering plants and gardens can reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. Planting native, drought-resistant plants and grasses can also reduce stormwater runoff, as these plants often have longer root systems that require fewer chemicals and water.

Implement green agriculture

Agriculture has a significant impact on water pollution due to the use of chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides, as well as livestock excrement, manure, and methane emissions. Therefore, implementing green agriculture practices is crucial to improving river water quality.

Green agriculture focuses on climate-friendly crops, efficient irrigation, and energy-efficient food production to reduce the chemicals that enter the water. Here are some specific ways to implement green agriculture and improve river water quality:

• Crop Diversification: This technique helps improve soil health and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, thereby decreasing the potential for water contamination.
• Contour Farming: This method involves farming along the contours of the land, which helps prevent soil erosion and runoff. By reducing runoff, contour farming keeps pollutants from entering water bodies.
• Cover Cropping: Cover crops protect bare soil from erosion, water loss, and compaction by providing a protective layer. They also compete with weeds for water and nutrients, reducing the need for herbicides and other chemical inputs.
• Organic Farming: This set of farming techniques prioritizes using natural methods and materials to promote soil fertility, reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals, and conserve water. Organic farming can enhance soil quality and control pests without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.
• Proper Grazing Management: Carefully managing grazing patterns can enhance the field's ability to absorb water and minimize runoff. This approach improves water retention in the soil, leading to better drought resilience and more sustainable livestock management.
• Water Harvesting and Reuse Systems: These systems collect and store runoff and stormwater for later use, reducing the reliance on freshwater sources and promoting water conservation. They also reduce runoff volume and prevent water quality degradation downstream.
• Drip Irrigation: This technique delivers water and nutrients directly to the root zone of each plant in precise amounts, allowing farmers to achieve higher yields while using less water, fertilizer, and energy. Drip irrigation reduces waste and maximizes the efficiency of water and nutrient use in agriculture.
• Constructed Wetlands: These natural biofilters trap pollutants like nitrates, phosphates, and sediment from agricultural runoff, preventing them from entering rivers and other water bodies. Constructed wetlands also provide habitats for diverse flora and fauna, contributing to biodiversity conservation.
• Buffer Strips or Riparian Zones: These vegetated areas along water bodies help filter out pollutants from agricultural runoff, enhancing landscape connectivity and offering habitats for various species.

Improve stormwater management

Stormwater management is the effort to reduce the runoff of rainwater or melted snow into streets, lawns, and other sites, and improve water quality. When left unmanaged, stormwater can cause serious damage to streams, lakes, and estuaries, and has been identified by the EPA as the leading cause of water quality problems in U.S. rivers and streams.

To improve stormwater management, it is important to reduce the amount of runoff that reaches waterways. This can be done through the implementation of green infrastructure, which uses permeable pavement, bioswales, planter boxes, vegetated rooftops, roadside plantings, absorbent gardens, and other natural elements to capture, absorb, and filter rainfall where it lands.

Green infrastructure tackles urban water woes and boosts climate resilience by relying on plants, soil, and natural systems to manage rainfall runoff. For example, trees hold rainfall and help manage stormwater, while also providing shade and enhancing the safety of pedestrians. In addition, green infrastructure can improve air quality and provide myriad other environmental, economic, and health benefits.

Another way to improve stormwater management is to implement pervious surfaces that are porous and allow rainfall and snowmelt to soak into the soil. This helps to reduce the amount of water that runs across the surface and into storm sewers and road ditches, carrying debris, chemicals, bacteria, eroded soil, and other pollutants into waterways.

Finally, it is important to educate oneself on where rainwater and snowmelt flow on one's property when it doesn't get absorbed into the ground. This knowledge can help inform the implementation of best management practices to reduce runoff and ensure that it is clean when it leaves the property.

Reduce home sewer leaks

Home sewer leaks are a common issue that can lead to increased water consumption and higher bills. To reduce these leaks, it is important to regularly inspect and maintain the sewer system, particularly the privately-owned portion of the sewage collection system known as the sewer leader lines.

One way to ensure proper maintenance is to implement an insurance program for property owners, which provides support for repairs and upkeep. Such programs already exist in parts of Westchester County and other areas across the nation. For communities in Westchester County, the Department of Environmental Facilities can offer further information and guidance on these programs.

To identify leaks, a visual inspection of the home's piping and plumbing system is a good starting point. This includes checking water connections to major appliances such as hot water heaters, heating systems, pipes on exterior walls, sinks, toilets, washing machines, dishwashers, and shower connections. Leaky toilets, for instance, can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day, so it is crucial to keep them in good working order. A simple dye test can help identify a leak—adding a few drops of food coloring to the toilet tank and checking for color in the bowl after 15-20 minutes. If there is a leak, it can often be fixed by replacing the flapper valve, an easy and inexpensive repair.

Faucets and fixtures are another common source of leaks, with dripping faucets wasting up to 5 gallons of water daily. Conducting regular inspections and promptly addressing any issues can help reduce home sewer leaks and their impact on water quality.

Develop wetlands and SuDs (rainscapes)

Developing wetlands and SuDs (rainscapes) is an effective way to improve river water quality and reduce water pollution. SuDs, or Sustainable Drainage Systems, are designed to manage stormwater runoff and treat polluted water. Wetlands, an integral component of SuDs, play a crucial role in this process.

Wetlands are shallow ponds or marshy areas covered in aquatic vegetation. They are engineered to detain water flows for extended periods, allowing sediments and contaminants to settle and be removed through adhesion to vegetation and natural decomposition processes. This slow flow, or "residence time," enables the breakdown of oils and other pollutants by natural organisms. Additionally, wetlands provide ecological benefits, such as biodiversity, flood risk management, and groundwater recharge.

Rainscapes, also known as raingardens, are shallow planted areas that utilize natural processes to prevent groundwater pollution. They achieve this by slowing down and holding water, allowing time, sunlight, vegetation, and bacteria to break down pollutants. This treated water then flows into canals, rivers, and eventually the sea, reducing the impact of pollution on these water bodies.

The implementation of SuDs and rainscapes offers multiple advantages. They not only improve water quality but also enhance biodiversity, mitigate flooding, and provide educational and recreational opportunities. Additionally, rainscapes are cost-effective solutions, as demonstrated by projects like the Wallands Primary School rainscape, where students can learn about sustainable water management while enjoying an eco-friendly outdoor space.

To ensure the effectiveness of wetlands and rainscapes, it is important to consider their design and location. Wetlands, for instance, require an adequate supply of oxygen, which means maintaining a shallow water depth to allow oxygen to reach the bottom. Additionally, in highly urbanized areas, wetlands can be incorporated into the streetscape or hard landscaping features, provided they are appropriately sized for the catchment area to support water treatment.

Frequently asked questions