STORM WATER AWARENESSEastern Virginia Medical School

Clean Water Act Environmental Protection Agency

Phase I 1990 – large municipal systems Phase II 1999 – additional municipal systems

2004 National Water Quality Inventory Of assessed U.S. water bodies, 44% of rivers (miles), 64% of lakes

(acres), and 30% of bays and estuaries (sq. mi.) are impaired by pollution.

Do not meet water quality standards Not clean enough for swimming and fishing

Leading sources include atmospheric deposition, agriculture runoff, and hydrologic modifications.

Storm Water Program

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Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

Permits EVMS obtained permit in 2003 Erosion and Sediment Control Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Education requirements Control measures

Storm Water Program

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Storm water is water from rain or melting snow that does not soak into the ground.

It flows from rooftops, over paved areas and bare soil, and through sloped lawns.

What is it?

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Runoff collects and transports soil, pet manure, salt, pesticides, fertilizer, oil and grease, leaves, litter and other potential pollutants.

Pollutants

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Sometimes we dump or sweep pollutants down the drain.

We also spread lawn chemicals that end up in the street, and subsequently into storm drains.

Yard Waste/Fertilizer

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Rinse water, as well as grease and oil, from washing your car drains to the curb then to the storm sewer.

Washing the car

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Pet droppings contain bacteria and other pathogens.

When our pets leave those little surprises, rain washes all that waste into our storm drains.

Scoop the poop!

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Paint, pesticides, used motor oil, solvents, etc. At EVMS, dispose via Environmental Health & Safety

(EH&S) At home, Household Hazardous Waste Facilities and

Collection Schedule For more information, contact SPSA

Hazardous Waste

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Chesapeake Transfer Station901 Hollowell LaneChesapeake, VA 23320 Open:

M-F (7:00AM – 3:00PM) Sat (7:00AM – Noon)

Regional Landfill1 Bob Foeller DriveSuffolk, VA 23434 Open:

M-F (8:00AM – 4:00PM) Sat (8:00AM – Noon)

Household Hazardous Waste

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Norfolk Transfer Station3136 Woodland AvenueNorfolk, VA 23507 Open:

Sat and Sun(Noon – 4:00PM)

Landstown Transfer Station1825 Concert DriveVirginia Beach, VA 23453 Used motor oil drop-off only Open:

M-F (5:00AM – 5:00PM) Sat (7:00AM – Noon)

Household Hazardous Waste

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Rain carries pollutants to streams, wetlands, lakes and coastal waters.

Storm drains carry runoff from a neighborhood to the nearest body of water. Storm sewers DO NOT carry storm water to wastewater

treatment plants!

Where does it go?

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Excess nutrients cause algae blooms.

When algae die, they remove oxygen from the water.

Fish and other aquatic life cannot exist in water with low oxygen levels.

Bacteria can wash into swimming areas and create health hazards, often making beach closures necessary.

Why the concern?

Algae

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Household hazardous wastes like insecticides, pesticides, paint, solvents, used motor oil, and other auto fluids can poison aquatic life.

Debris – plastic bags, six-pack rings, bottles, and cigarette butts – washed into water bodies can choke, suffocate, or disable aquatic life.

Why the concern?

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An illegal and/or improper waste discharge into a storm drain system and receiving waters

Example: connection of a floor drain in a business to a storm sewer

Illicit Discharges

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Pouring used motor oil down a storm sewer catch basin rather than properly recycling the waste oil.

One quart of used motor oil can contaminate 250,000 gallons of drinking water and spread an oil slick the size of two football fields.

Illicit Discharges

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Exxon Valdez oil spill – 1989 11 million gallons of oil

spilled

Do-it-yourselfers Home oil change 200 million gallons per

year

Oil Spill?

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Flooding Clogged drainage ditches in neighborhoods

Beaches closed due to contamination Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach

Increased mercury in fish Lake Whitehurst and Lake Trashmore

Oyster yield decreased Reduced water quality

Impacts

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Yard waste Sweep clippings back onto the lawn. Rake up pine needles and leaves and recycle them.

Landscaping Eliminate bare spots and paved areas. Plant grass, ground covers or flower beds.

Pet droppings Pick up droppings, bury them, or, if not mixed with

other material, flush down the toilet.

What can we do?

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Hazardous chemicals Store safely, read manufacturers directions, and

dispose at a household hazardous waste facility. Car washing

Wash your car on the lawn or use a commercial car wash.

Report illicit discharges At EVMS, report to EH&S. At home, call your local Public Works Department.

What can we do?

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Polluted storm water often affects drinking water sources. This, in turn, can affect human health and increase drinking water treatment costs.

You dump it, you drink it!

Effects of Pollutants

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Lawn maintenance Yard waste – do not blow

in the street Pesticides and herbicides

– apply per manufacturer’s instructions

EVMS Concerns

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Hazardous chemicals Dispose via EH&S, not in drains Recycle waste oil and antifreeze

Ice melting products Spread only on the sidewalk according to

manufacturer’s instructions Raw materials

Mulch, sand, dirt, rocks Prevent washing into storm drains

EVMS Issues

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Only Rain Should Go Down the Drain!

Remember…