Keep Storm Water Clean
While walking to the Senior Center last week, I noticed small drifts of white powder on the streets and sidewalks. The stuff piled up as I got closer to the center. I thought maybe a box of soap powder had burst outside the Supremo supermarket. But when I left the center by the front door, I realized the little pellets were coming from the material being used to create a new façade on the building. It made me wonder whether any rules are in place for this type of construction and what effect this debris will have on storm water, now that the state Department of Environmental Protection wants all municipalities to reduce the amount of “suspended solids” in the runoff into sewers.
The city will have to install new “trash racks” on storm drain inlets, which may lessen the problem not only of litter contaminating the water, but the odd practice of many people who neatly push coffee cups and food wrappers down the storm drain in a misguided attempt at disposal.
I seldom see those small crack vials any more, but there are lots of small plastic envelopes on the ground that can wash down the drain, along with the plastic wrappers of the small cigars that seem to go with the envelopes.
And now that the rules are changing, I am noticing all the rubber bands that letter carriers discard on their routes. Maybe they could be kept and re-used or held until they can be put in the trash.
Water treatment to remove contaminants is costly. New rules are establishing penalties for not disposing of pet waste properly ($100 per violation), putting motor oil or anything else down the storm drain ($500 per violation), feeding wildlife including birds on public property ($100 per violation), making illicit connections to the storm water system or putting loose leaves in the gutter less than 10 feet from a storm drain (both $500 per violation).
People have painted fish images on the drains as a reminder that sea life is affected by polluted storm water. Awareness is the key to honoring these new rules. The DEP has lots of information on how people can aid the effort. Look here for some ideas.
--Bernice Paglia
The city will have to install new “trash racks” on storm drain inlets, which may lessen the problem not only of litter contaminating the water, but the odd practice of many people who neatly push coffee cups and food wrappers down the storm drain in a misguided attempt at disposal.
I seldom see those small crack vials any more, but there are lots of small plastic envelopes on the ground that can wash down the drain, along with the plastic wrappers of the small cigars that seem to go with the envelopes.
And now that the rules are changing, I am noticing all the rubber bands that letter carriers discard on their routes. Maybe they could be kept and re-used or held until they can be put in the trash.
Water treatment to remove contaminants is costly. New rules are establishing penalties for not disposing of pet waste properly ($100 per violation), putting motor oil or anything else down the storm drain ($500 per violation), feeding wildlife including birds on public property ($100 per violation), making illicit connections to the storm water system or putting loose leaves in the gutter less than 10 feet from a storm drain (both $500 per violation).
People have painted fish images on the drains as a reminder that sea life is affected by polluted storm water. Awareness is the key to honoring these new rules. The DEP has lots of information on how people can aid the effort. Look here for some ideas.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 4:41 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home