When it comes to stormwater runoff, many people are unaware of what happens to this excess water once it finds its way into a storm drain. Once the water that constitutes most of your stormwater runoff has had a chance to collect all sorts of pollutants, trash, and other undesirable elements that are part of the landscape, these things all end up in the common water supply eventually. Besides leading to unhealthy drinking water supplies and all that goes with it, polluted stormwater runoff can also upset the ecosystems of many waterways by killing off beneficial plant and animal wildlife.
However, there are many excellent and easy ways to keep polluted stormwater runoff at bay in your area. First, do your best to make sure that everyday pollutants like gasoline, oil, and antifreeze are properly disposed of, and not simply washed down the drain. You can also avoid littering or using excessive fertilizer, as these can both affect the stormwater runoff in your area as well. Also, you can ask your local municipality if there are filters being used in the storm drains where you live. Simple filters can catch the majority of the bad stuff that is commonly found in stormwater runoff, and the initial investment can pay off greatly in quality of life issues down the road.
However, if the local government does not have the money to install the equipment designed to filter stormwater runoff, you can also try to get your neighbors involved in order to raise money for the cause. If your municipality agrees to install devices that will help decrease common water table pollution due to stormwater runoff if these things are paid for in advance, this can be a major boost. Get creative, and do your best to make polluted stormwater runoff a negligible problem!
