A Guide to Understanding Storm Water Runoff

What is Storm Water Runoff?

Storm water runoff occurs when precipitation from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and streets can prevent storm water from naturally soaking into the ground. Consequently, the water “runs off” into a catch basin, a side ditch, or some other storm water collection system that transports the water directly to a river or lake.

Natural Ground Cover

75% - 100% Impervious Cover

25% deep infiltration

5% deep infiltration

10% shallow infiltration

25% shallow infiltration

40% evaporation 30% evaporation

10% runoff

55% runof

f

How groundcover affects the amount of storm water runoff

Where does storm water runoff go?

Water Treatment Plant

Commercial DevelopmentResidential

Development

As storm water flows over driveways, lawns, and sidewalks, it picks up debris, chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants, and empties into a storm water collection system.

Anything that enters a storm water collection system is discharged untreated into the lakes and rivers we use for swimming, fishing, and providing drinking water.Now that point-source

pollution has been remediated, polluted runoff currently ranks as one of the nation’s greatest threats to clean water.

So what’s the big deal?

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What percentage of the earth is covered by water?

About 80% of the world is covered by water or ice, leaving the remaining 20% as dry land.

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What percentage of the world’s water is readily available for humans to use?

97% of the water on earth is salty ocean and 2% is frozen. The remaining 1% is available to meet human needs.

Possible pollutants in storm water:

If left uncontrolled, these pollutants can:

1. Public Education/Outreach on Storm Water Impacts

2. Public Involvement/Participation

3. Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination

4. Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control

5. Post-Construction Storm Water Management

6. Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations

In response to the pollution hazards caused by storm water runoff, the Environmental Protection Agency passed Phase II of the federal Clean Water Act. To comply with this regulation, the Board of Miami County Commissioners and other political subdivisions have coordinated efforts to develop Storm water Management Programs so that pollution caused by runoff in Miami County can be minimized as much as possible.

The Storm Water Management Program consists of the following six components, which are targeted for implementation by the end of 2007:

The Feds get involved

Partner Agencies Coordinating on Storm Water Management

Miami County Commissioners

Miami Conservancy District

Miami Soil & Water Conservation District

Miami County Health Department

Miami County Planning & Zoning

Miami County Engineer’s Office

Local Watershed Groups

OSU Extension

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency

You!

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How many quarts of water are contained in the typical adult human body?

The adult body contains about 40 quarts or 10 gallons of water.

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Whose body contains more water…man’s or woman’s ?

you figure it out!

A man’s body is 60-65% water while a women’s body is 50-60% water. Muscle tissue contains a large amount of water, while fat tissue contains virtually no water…

What is a watershed?

A watershed is all the land area that drains to a given body of water.

WE ALL LIVE IN A WATERSHED

The Great Miami River Watershed

FLETCHER

CASSTOWN

COVINGTON

BRADFORD

PIQUA

TROY

PLEASANT HILL

WEST MILTON

LUDLOW FALLS

POTSDAM

TIPP CITY

Miami County Major Watersheds

Middle Great Miami

Watershed

Honey Creek Watershed

Mad River Watershed

Stillwater Watershed

LAURA

What happens at our location in the watershed, either positive or negative, has a ripple effect on those who live “downstream” from us in the watershed.

No man is an island…

Sediment can cloud the water and make it difficult or impossible for aquatic plants to grow. Sediment also can destroy aquatic habitats.

Sources of Sediment

Anyplace where bare, non-vegetated soil is exposed to heavy precipitation can be a source of sediment. Large construction sites and plowed agricultural fields have the greatest potential to contribute to sediment loads in local streams and rivers.

Insecticides, pesticides, paint, solvents, used motor oil and other auto fluids can poison aquatic life. Land animals and people can become sick from eating diseased fish or ingesting polluted water.

Excess nutrients from fertilizers can cause algae blooms in rivers and lakes. When algae die, they sink to the bottom and decompose in a process that removes oxygen from the water. Fish and other aquatic organisms can’t exist in water with low dissolved oxygen levels.

Bacteria and other pathogens from animal waste or failing septic systems can migrate into receiving waters of a watershed and create numerous health hazards for humans and animals.

Plastic bags, six-pack rings, bottles, cigarette butts, etc, washed into waterbodies can choke, suffocate, or disable aquatic life like ducks, fish, turtles, and birds.

Polluted storm water can affect drinking water sources which, in turn, can increase drinking water treatment costs.

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How many quarts of water does the human body lose in a typical day?

You lose around 3 quarts of water per day through normal elimination, sweating and breathing. If you exercise or live in a humid climate, you may lose another quart.

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What is the largest use of water indoors?

Toilets use the most, with an average of 27 gallons per person per day. Laundry averages 17 gallons per person per day and showers 14 gallons.

So what can Average Joe Citizen do?

Household Waste Disposal

Lawn Care

Auto Care

Septic System Maintenance

Pet Waste Disposal

Home Repair & Improvement

Water Conservation

If each of us does our small part in preventing storm water pollution, the results will be significant. There’s a part we can play in each of the following areas:

Household Waste Disposal

Recycle or properly dispose of household products that contain chemicals, such as insecticides, pesticides, paint, solvents, and used motor oil and other auto fluids. Don’t pour these onto the ground or into storm drains.

It is a violation of state law (ORC 3767.14 and 3767.32) to dispose of oil products, litter, refuse, or other materials into a catch basin that could potentially contaminate a body of water.

Miami County Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program

Miami County residents can dispose of household hazardous waste materials free of charge four times throughout the year, through an arrangement between the Miami County Engineering Dept. and the Montgomery County Solid Waste District.

Items which may be disposed of include pesticides, herbicides, pool chemicals, old gasoline, propane tanks, gas cans, paint, household cleaners, stains, varnishes, thinners, florescent lights, photographic chemicals, old fire extinguishers, motor oil, antifreeze, wax, adhesives, and sealers.

A voucher is required to pre-arrange for disposal.

Call

440-3488 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00

p.m. Monday through Friday for more information.

Lawn Care

Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly. When use is necessary, apply only the recommended amounts, and avoid application if the forecast calls for rain.

Don’t over water your lawn. Water during the cool times of the day, and don’t let the water run off into the storm drain.

As much as possible, keep leaves, grass and other yard debris from entering the storm drain.

Auto Care

Wash your car at a commercial car wash that treats its wastewater, or wash your vehicle on your yard so the water infiltrates into the ground rather than entering the storm drain .

Repair leaks promptly and dispose of used auto fluids and batteries at designated drop-off or recycling locations.

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How many gallons of river water can be polluted by one quart of motor

oil?

2,500 gallons of water can be

contaminated by a single quart of oil.

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If a faucet leaks one drop every second for a year, how many gallons

of water goes down the drain?2,700 gallons. If you have a leaky toilet trap, you could

be losing as much as 1 million gallons of water

over a three month period, which would add an

additional $ 3000 to your quarterly water bill.

Septic System Maintenance

Inspect your system every 3 years and pump your tank as necessary (usually every 3 to 5 years).

Care for the leach field by not driving or parking vehicles on it. Plant only grass over and near the leach lines to avoid damage from tree roots.

Avoid flushing paint, pesticides, oil or other household chemicals into the system, as well as diapers, paper towels and cat litter, which can clog the leach lines.

Pet Waste Disposal

Many public walking trails and bike paths now provide pet litter stations to use for disposal of pet waste. Using these stations, and picking up after “Bruno” when he does his business during a neighborhood jaunt, will help to keep bacteria and excess nutrients from entering the storm water collection system during a heavy rain, and eventually ending up in the river.

Home Repair & Improvement

Whenever possible, purchase and use nontoxic, biodegradable, recycled, and recyclable products.

After using latex paints, clean paint brushes in a sink rather than in the yard. Filter and reuse paint thinner when using oil-based paints.

As much as possible, limit the amount of paved area and increase the amount of vegetated area in your yard. Consider directing downspouts away from paved surfaces onto lawns to increase infiltration and reduce runoff.

Sweep up and properly dispose of construction debris such as concrete and mortar.

Repair leaky faucets and toilets right away.

Water Conservation

Run the washing machine and dishwasher only when they are fully loaded. By doing so, each residence can save between 300-800 gallons of water monthly. (…or better yet, chuck the dishwasher and clean by hand)

Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving. Consider reducing shower times by a couple minutes. The water conserved may seem insignificant, but it will add up to a surprising amount over time.

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Test Your Knowledge

What is the largest use of water outdoors?

Lawn sprinkling is the largest use of water

outdoors?

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Test Your Knowledge

What‘s the longest river in the United States?

Bonus: Where does the Missouri River originate?

Williston, North Dakota Blair, Nebraska Three Forks, Montana

The Missouri River runs for 2,540 miles, longest in the United States. The Mississippi comes in second at 2,340 miles.

Join a local watershed group

Other things you can do

Middle Great Miami Watershed Alliance

Stillwater Watershed Project

Honey Creek Watershed Association

Upper Great Miami Watershed Project

Stay educated on storm water issues

Participate in a river clean up

And, most importantly…

Use our recreational water resources (fish, canoe, hike, camp, etc.)