primer on water quality and pollution in the rahway river watershed: status, sources, causes,...
TRANSCRIPT
Primer on Water Quality and Pollution Primer on Water Quality and Pollution in the Rahway River Watershed: in the Rahway River Watershed:
Status, Sources, Causes, Effects and SolutionsStatus, Sources, Causes, Effects and Solutions
Dr. Kirk Barrett, PE, DirectorDr. Kirk Barrett, PE, DirectorPassaic River InstitutePassaic River Institute
Montclair State University, Montclair, NJMontclair State University, Montclair, NJwww.primsu.orgwww.primsu.org
[email protected]@montclair.edu973-655-7117973-655-7117
With data provided by NJDEP With data provided by NJDEP Bureau of Water Monitoring and Standards and Bureau of Water Monitoring and Standards and
Bureau of Geographic Information SystemsBureau of Geographic Information Systems
A small building where water is stored?
What is a Watershed?
Watershed: area of land whose water flows to a certain lake or river.
Synonyms: Basin, drainage area, catchment, river valley
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Rahway River Watershed
83 sq miles; 53,00 acres215 sq km; 21,504 hectares.
River is about 23 miles long, from its mouth at the Arthur
Kill to start of West Branch in West Orange
/0 3 61.5
Miles
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Edison
Clark
Woodbridge
Westfield
W.Orange
Millburn
Linden
Cranford
Rahway
Union
Scotch Plains
Springfield
S.Orange
Maplewood
Mountainside
Carteret
Summit
Orange
Kenilworth
Garwood
PlainfieldFanwood
Metuchen
Winfield
S.Plainfield
0 3 61.5Miles
25 towns, 25 towns,
~330,000 ~330,000
populationpopulation
TOWNPERCENT OF WATERSHED
PERCENT OFPOPULATION
Woodbridge 11.8% 12%Edison 10.2% 8%Westfield 8.0% 9%W.Orange 7.8% 7%Scotch Plains 7.8% 5%Millburn 6.3% 3%Springfield 6.1% 4%Cranford 5.6% 6%Clark 5.3% 4%Linden 4.9% 4%Rahway 4.9% 8%Union 3.4% 5%Maplewood 3.4% 5%Mountainside 3.2% 1%S.Orange 3.1% 5%Carteret 1.7% 2%Summit 1.6% 1%Kenilworth 1.2% 1%Orange 1.1% 4%Garwood 0.8% 1%Plainfield 0.7% 1%Fanwood 0.5% 1%Metuchen 0.4% 0%Winfield 0.2% 0%
PERCENT OFWATERSHED AREA
Where? When? “Clean” for what purpose?
for drinking? for swimming? for wading?
(“primary contact recreation”) for boating? (“secondary contact rec”) for fishing/crabbing/shellfishing?
for consumption? for recreation (catch and release)?
for fish and wildlife support? which fish and wildlife species?
How clean (or polluted) is the Rahway River?How clean (or polluted) is the Rahway River?
Regulations call these “Designated Uses”Regulations call these “Designated Uses”
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EDISON
NEWARK
WOODBRIDGE
LINDEN
ELIZABETH
LIVINGSTON TWP
UNION
KEARNY TOWN
MILLBURN
W ORANGE
SUMMIT
SCOTCH PLAINS CLARK
WESTFIELD
PLAINFIELD CITY
FLORHAM PARK BORO
SOUTH PLAINFIELD BORO
BLOOMFIELD TWP
CRANFORD
RAHWAY
CARTERET
SPRINGFIELD
MADISON BORO
BERKELEY HEIGHTS TWP
MAPLEWOOD
BELLEVILLE TWP
E ORANGE
HILLSIDE
MOUNTAINSIDE
IRVINGTON
ROSELLE BORO
METUCHEN
CHATHAM BORO
NEW PROVIDENCE BORO
KENILWORTH
ORANGE
NORTH ARLINGTON BORO
S ORANGE
FANWOOD
HARRISON TOWN
GLEN RIDGE BORO
ROSELLE PARK
GARWOOD
WINFIELD
EAST NEWARK BORO
State Classification: mostly “FW2-NT” (freshwater nontrout)
DESIGNATED USES
1. Maintenance, migration and propagation of the natural and established biota
2. Primary and secondary contact recreation
3. Industrial water supply4. Public potable water supply after
conventional treatment
5. Any other reasonable uses
SE2 and SE3 (saline and estuarine) 1. Maintenance, migration (and
propagation for SE2) of the natural and established biota, including diadromous fish
2. Secondary contact recreation 3. Any other reasonable uses
Legend
swqs-surf water qual stds
CATEGORY
FW1
FW1-TM
FW1-TP
FW2-NT/SE1
FW2-NT/SE2
FW2-NT/SE3
FW2-NTC1
FW2-NTC1/SE1
FW2-NTC1/SE1/SC
FW2-NTC1/SE2
FW2-TM
FW2-TMC1
FW2-TP
FW2-TPC1
SE1
FW2-NT
SE2
SE3
Municipal boundaries
Major Public Parks
Expressways
Watershed boundaryFrom From NJDEPNJDEP
So, is the water So, is the water “clean” enough “clean” enough
to achieve to achieve these these
designated designated uses?uses?
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EDISON
NEWARK
WOODBRIDGE
LINDEN
ELIZABETH
LIVINGSTON TWP
UNION
KEARNY TOWN
MILLBURN
W ORANGE
SUMMIT
SCOTCH PLAINS CLARK
WESTFIELD
PLAINFIELD CITY
FLORHAM PARK BORO
SOUTH PLAINFIELD BORO
BLOOMFIELD TWP
CRANFORD
RAHWAY
CARTERET
SPRINGFIELD
MADISON BORO
BERKELEY HEIGHTS TWP
MAPLEWOOD
BELLEVILLE TWP
E ORANGE
HILLSIDE
MOUNTAINSIDE
IRVINGTON
ROSELLE BORO
METUCHEN
CHATHAM BORO
NEW PROVIDENCE BORO
KENILWORTH
ORANGE
NORTH ARLINGTON BORO
S ORANGE
FANWOOD
HARRISON TOWN
GLEN RIDGE BORO
ROSELLE PARK
GARWOOD
WINFIELD
EAST NEWARK BORO
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EDISON
NEWARK
WOODBRIDGE
LINDEN
ELIZABETH
LIVINGSTON TWP
UNION
KEARNY TOWN
MILLBURN
W ORANGE
SUMMIT
SCOTCH PLAINS CLARK
WESTFIELD
PLAINFIELD CITY
FLORHAM PARK BORO
SOUTH PLAINFIELD BORO
BLOOMFIELD TWP
CRANFORD
RAHWAY
CARTERET
SPRINGFIELD
MADISON BORO
BERKELEY HEIGHTS TWP
MAPLEWOOD
BELLEVILLE TWP
E ORANGE
HILLSIDE
MOUNTAINSIDE
IRVINGTON
ROSELLE BORO
METUCHEN
CHATHAM BORO
NEW PROVIDENCE BORO
KENILWORTH
ORANGE
NORTH ARLINGTON BORO
S ORANGE
FANWOOD
HARRISON TOWN
GLEN RIDGE BORO
ROSELLE PARK
GARWOOD
WINFIELD
EAST NEWARK BORO
“Support of Aquatic Life“
Classification based on NJDEP “AMNET” biological monitoring sites, monitored once every five years for small aquatic invertebrate animals (insect larvae, snails, clams, crayfish)
All 10 sites in watershed are All 10 sites in watershed are “moderately impaired”“moderately impaired”
In 2006 report, “Less than 20% of the State’s waters attain the general aquatic life use”
Support of Secondary Contact Recreation
Classification based on concentration of pathogen indicators, ie, bacteria found in fecal matter of warm blooded animals
Water qualityWater qualitymonitoring sitemonitoring site
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EDISON
NEWARK
WOODBRIDGE
LINDEN
ELIZABETH
LIVINGSTON TWP
UNION
KEARNY TOWN
MILLBURN
W ORANGE
SUMMIT
SCOTCH PLAINS CLARK
WESTFIELD
PLAINFIELD CITY
FLORHAM PARK BORO
SOUTH PLAINFIELD BORO
BLOOMFIELD TWP
CRANFORD
RAHWAY
CARTERET
SPRINGFIELD
MADISON BORO
BERKELEY HEIGHTS TWP
MAPLEWOOD
BELLEVILLE TWP
E ORANGE
HILLSIDE
MOUNTAINSIDE
IRVINGTON
ROSELLE BORO
METUCHEN
CHATHAM BORO
NEW PROVIDENCE BORO
KENILWORTH
ORANGE
NORTH ARLINGTON BORO
S ORANGE
FANWOOD
HARRISON TOWN
GLEN RIDGE BORO
ROSELLE PARK
GARWOOD
WINFIELD
EAST NEWARK BORO
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EDISON
NEWARK
WOODBRIDGE
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LIVINGSTON TWP
UNION
KEARNY TOWN
MILLBURN
W ORANGE
SUMMIT
SCOTCH PLAINS CLARK
WESTFIELD
PLAINFIELD CITY
FLORHAM PARK BORO
SOUTH PLAINFIELD BORO
BLOOMFIELD TWP
CRANFORD
RAHWAY
CARTERET
SPRINGFIELD
MADISON BORO
BERKELEY HEIGHTS TWP
MAPLEWOOD
BELLEVILLE TWP
E ORANGE
HILLSIDE
MOUNTAINSIDE
IRVINGTON
ROSELLE BORO
METUCHEN
CHATHAM BORO
NEW PROVIDENCE BORO
KENILWORTH
ORANGE
NORTH ARLINGTON BORO
S ORANGE
FANWOOD
HARRISON TOWN
GLEN RIDGE BORO
ROSELLE PARK
GARWOOD
WINFIELD
EAST NEWARK BORO
City of Rahway/United WaterCity of Rahway/United WaterWater Intake and Treatment Plant: 26,000 Water Intake and Treatment Plant: 26,000
customers; 5.5 million gallons/daycustomers; 5.5 million gallons/day
So, is it safe to Drink, Swim, Wade, Fish, Boat?
Drink? After treatment, Yes
Swim? No – no designated swimming areas
Safe to eat the fish from tidal/estuarine areas?
Estimate 1 in 10,000 risk of cancer during your lifetime Estimate 1 in 10,000 risk of cancer during your lifetime from eating fish at the advisory level. from eating fish at the advisory level.
www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/fishadvisories/www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/fishadvisories/
High Risk Individuals: infants, children, pregnant High Risk Individuals: infants, children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, women of childbearing women, nursing mothers, women of childbearing ageage
Safe to eat the fish from freshwater areas?
No specific fish consumption advisory for any fresh waterbody in the watershed.
Safe to boat or fish? Not clear cutBased on sampling at several points, NJDEP declared most of the watershed as not supporting secondary contact recreation; at some times and at some locations, the standard for pathogen indicators was exceeded.
What is the risk of getting sick? Depends on where you go, when you go, how careful you are. Typically worse after a storm; better in cold weather
A lot of people fish and a lot of people boat – and they keep on doing it.
Quiz -- In the United States as a whole, what is the most common cause of pollution that impairs use of streams, rivers and oceans?
a. Dumping of garbage directly into watersb. Rainfall washing off pollution from
yards, streets, parking lots, and farmsc. Contaminated soil and leaking tanks at
old, abandoned factories.d. Waste from operating factoriese. Improperly treated sewage from
treatment plants and septic systems
CAUSES OF POLLUTIONCAUSES OF POLLUTION
We call this We call this “nonpoint source pollution” “nonpoint source pollution” – – pollution whose source is diffuse (distributed) pollution whose source is diffuse (distributed) throughout a watershed; it cannot be traced throughout a watershed; it cannot be traced to a single pointto a single point
Typical Urban Nonpoint PollutionTypical Urban Nonpoint Pollutionabout land use practices, behaviors, pavement, and automobilesabout land use practices, behaviors, pavement, and automobiles
Pollutant Sources Effects Sediment (Soil partic les)
Construction sites, dust fall out and wash off; eroding stream banks
Turbid water, smothered habitat, filled-in lakes
Excess nutrients (Phosphorus and Nitrogen)
Misapplied fertilizers, fecal matter from pets and wildlife
Overgrowth of aquatic plants and algae low dissolved oxygen and green color in lakes
Pathogens (disease causing bacteria, viruses, etc.)
Fecal matter from pets and wildlife Diseases (gastrointestinal), c losed water recreation and shellfising
Salt Road salting, runoff from salt piles Toxicity to biota; unfit for drinking
Hot water Runoff from hot, paved surfaces; heating in detention ponds
Stresses sensitive aquatic animals; lowers dissolved oxygen
Pesticides Misapplication to lawn and gardens; dumping of excess
Oil Dumping by do-it-yourself oil changes, leading oil from cars
Toxic chemicals like PCBs and benzene
Fall-out of combustion products of gasoline and coal; erosion from contaminated land; runoff from new asphalt and sealants
Heavy metals like mercury and lead)
Leaking fluids from cars; tire wear; rusting automobiles, fall-out of combustion products; dumping of household hazardous waste (paint)
Toxicity to biota
Higher and more frequent flow rates
Runoff from impervious surfaces (pavement and roofs)
Streambank and channel bottom erosion; unstable habitats
Amount of Amount of nonpoint nonpoint
pollution is pollution is related to related to extent of extent of
urbanization urbanization (development) (development)
Legend
Watershed boundary
w07lu02
LU02
Residential
Commercial/Industrial
Recreational
Agricultural
Forest
Water
Wetland
Barren
Water
Municipal boundaries
Expressways
Legend
Watershed boundary
w07lu02
LU02
Residential
Commercial/Industrial
Recreational
Agricultural
Forest
Water
Wetland
Barren
Water
Municipal boundaries
Expressways
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EDISON
NEWARK
WOODBRIDGE
LINDEN
ELIZABETH
LIVINGSTON TWP
UNION
KEARNY TOWN
MILLBURN
W ORANGE
SUMMIT
SCOTCH PLAINS CLARK
WESTFIELD
PLAINFIELD CITY
FLORHAM PARK BORO
SOUTH PLAINFIELD BORO
BLOOMFIELD TWP
CRANFORD
RAHWAY
CARTERET
SPRINGFIELD
MADISON BORO
BERKELEY HEIGHTS TWP
MAPLEWOOD
BELLEVILLE TWP
E ORANGE
HILLSIDE
MOUNTAINSIDE
IRVINGTON
ROSELLE BORO
METUCHEN
CHATHAM BORO
NEW PROVIDENCE BORO
KENILWORTH
ORANGE
NORTH ARLINGTON BORO
S ORANGE
FANWOOD
HARRISON TOWN
GLEN RIDGE BORO
ROSELLE PARK
GARWOOD
WINFIELD
EAST NEWARK BORO
Percent Percent “Impervious cover” “Impervious cover” (pavement and rooftops)(pavement and rooftops) is an indicator of is an indicator of
urbanization and of urbanization and of disturbance of the disturbance of the
aquatic ecologyaquatic ecology
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Water
Watershed boundary
Expressways
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IS02
0-10 (minimially disturbed)
10-25 (slighly disturbed)
25-50 (moderately disturbed)
50-75 (highly disturbed)
75-100 (very highly disturbed)
Municipal boundaries
General GuideGeneral Guide
““Point Source” Point Source” Discharges: Discharges: Wastewater Wastewater
Treatment Plants, Treatment Plants, Treated Industrial Treated Industrial
WastewaterWastewater
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NJPDES-SW
DISTYPE
CG
WWTP - major
Industrial - major
Industrial - minor
CSO
Petroleum remediation
RF
Water
Watershed boundary
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Legend
NJPDES-SW
DISTYPE
CG
WWTP - major
Industrial - major
Industrial - minor
CSO
Petroleum remediation
RF
Water
Watershed boundary
10
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now removednow removed
Two Wastewater Treatment PlantsTwo Wastewater Treatment Plantstreat sewage and industrial wastestreat sewage and industrial wastes
Rahway Valley WWTP -- Rahway Valley WWTP -- serves ~300,000 residents and 3,500 serves ~300,000 residents and 3,500 industrial and commercial customers industrial and commercial customers in 14 towns; 40 million gallons per in 14 towns; 40 million gallons per day; secondary treatment; day; secondary treatment; discharges to Rahway River discharges to Rahway River
Linden-Roselle WWTP Linden-Roselle WWTP -- -- serves Linden and Roselle; 17 MGD; serves Linden and Roselle; 17 MGD; discharges to the Arthur Kill. discharges to the Arthur Kill. Secondary treatment?Secondary treatment?
Main pollutants in discharge are nitrogen and phosphorus; Main pollutants in discharge are nitrogen and phosphorus; pharmaceuticals are becoming an issuespharmaceuticals are becoming an issues
““Known Contaminated Sites”Known Contaminated Sites”
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Again, more intense Again, more intense downstream.downstream.
What effect are they What effect are they having on the having on the Rahway River and Rahway River and tributaries?? tributaries??
Legend
contaminated_sites<all other values>
REM_LEVEL
Minor
Minor (n = 305)
Moderate (314)
Major/Complicated (50)
Multiple Source/Release to Multi-Media Including GW
U: Not Yet Determined
Water
Watershed boundary
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14
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Drinking Water WellsDrinking Water Wellsand and
Areas with Contaminated Areas with Contaminated GroundwaterGroundwater
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cea - gw contam area
Water
Watershed boundary
10
14
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Water Supply Wells (from NJDEP)
#0 <1000 gals/min
#0 >1000 gals/min
Legend
cea - gw contam area
Water
Watershed boundary
10
14
15
Water Supply Wells (from NJDEP)
#0 <1000 gals/min
#0 >1000 gals/min
Area of contaminated groundwater
Review – Sources of PollutionReview – Sources of Pollution• Nonpoint sources (polluted runoff)Nonpoint sources (polluted runoff)
– misapplied fertilizers & pesticides from lawnsmisapplied fertilizers & pesticides from lawns– motor vehicle related (exhaust fall out and wash off, motor vehicle related (exhaust fall out and wash off,
rusting metal, tire wear, leaking fluids) rusting metal, tire wear, leaking fluids) – pet and wildlife feces; leaking sewerspet and wildlife feces; leaking sewers– more pavement ==> more pollutionmore pavement ==> more pollution– larger and more frequent high flowslarger and more frequent high flows
• Treated Wastewater Treated Wastewater – only two, at downstream end of watershed only two, at downstream end of watershed – nutrients: nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients: nitrogen and phosphorus – pharmaceutical problem is poorly understoodpharmaceutical problem is poorly understood
• Contaminated SitesContaminated Sites– lots of them; most of the major ones downstreamlots of them; most of the major ones downstream– impact on waterways uncertain impact on waterways uncertain
• Human Health Human Health – potential expose to pathogens during potential expose to pathogens during
“secondary contact recreation”, namely, “secondary contact recreation”, namely, boating and fishingboating and fishing
– fish consumptionfish consumption
• Ecological (on fish and aquatic wildlife)Ecological (on fish and aquatic wildlife)
• Quality of LifeQuality of Life
• EconomicEconomic
EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION /EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION /BENEFITS OF CLEAN WATERBENEFITS OF CLEAN WATER
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Newark
EDISON
NEWARK
WOODBRIDGE
LINDEN
ELIZABETH
LIVINGSTON TWP
UNION
KEARNY TOWN
MILLBURN
W ORANGE
SUMMIT
SCOTCH PLAINS CLARK
WESTFIELD
PLAINFIELD CITY
FLORHAM PARK BORO
SOUTH PLAINFIELD BORO
BLOOMFIELD TWP
CRANFORD
RAHWAY
CARTERET
SPRINGFIELD
MADISON BORO
BERKELEY HEIGHTS TWP
MAPLEWOOD
BELLEVILLE TWP
E ORANGE
HILLSIDE
MOUNTAINSIDE
IRVINGTON
ROSELLE BORO
METUCHEN
CHATHAM BORO
NEW PROVIDENCE BORO
KENILWORTH
ORANGE
NORTH ARLINGTON BORO
S ORANGE
FANWOOD
HARRISON TOWN
GLEN RIDGE BORO
ROSELLE PARK
GARWOOD
WINFIELD
EAST NEWARK BORO
NJDEP’s monitoring of small, NJDEP’s monitoring of small,
aquatic, invertebrate animalsaquatic, invertebrate animals (insect larvae, snails, clams, crayfish): (insect larvae, snails, clams, crayfish):
All 10 sites are All 10 sites are “moderately impaired” “moderately impaired”
regarding expected regarding expected biodiversity and presence biodiversity and presence
of sensitive speciesof sensitive species
An indicator of impaired An indicator of impaired overall ecological conditionoverall ecological condition
Fish Fish ““Index of Biotic Integrity”Index of Biotic Integrity”
Is there the expected Is there the expected diversity of fish species?diversity of fish species?
Are most of the fish Are most of the fish species found tolerant or species found tolerant or intolerant of pollution?intolerant of pollution?
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Legend
fish-ibi
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Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Water
Watershed boundary
10
14
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Quality of Life EffectsQuality of Life Effects
Actual or perceived water pollution is Actual or perceived water pollution is depriving some people use of the water in depriving some people use of the water in
one or more ways to some extent .one or more ways to some extent .
Or, improved water quality would allow Or, improved water quality would allow more people to use the water more often, in more people to use the water more often, in
more ways, and/or enjoy it more.more ways, and/or enjoy it more.
•RecreationRecreation•RelaxationRelaxation•AestheticsAesthetics•““Existence Value”Existence Value”
Economic Effects of Water PollutionEconomic Effects of Water Pollution• Diminished value of near-water propertiesDiminished value of near-water properties• Lost business opportunities servicing Lost business opportunities servicing
River users River users • Unavailable for drinking and/or industrial Unavailable for drinking and/or industrial
uses; increase treatment costsuses; increase treatment costs• Physical and mental health care costs and Physical and mental health care costs and
lost productivity resulting from diminished lost productivity resulting from diminished recreation and relaxationrecreation and relaxation
HARD TO PUT A NUMBER ON THESEHARD TO PUT A NUMBER ON THESE
SOLUTIONS: Approaches for ReducingSOLUTIONS: Approaches for ReducingUrban, Nonpoint Water PollutionUrban, Nonpoint Water Pollution
• Regulatory ApproachesRegulatory Approaches– NJ Stormwater Management RulesNJ Stormwater Management Rules– Municipal Stormwater Regulation Program Municipal Stormwater Regulation Program
(MS4 permitting program)(MS4 permitting program)– Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
• Regional Stormwater Management PlansRegional Stormwater Management Plans• ““Green” redevelopment Green” redevelopment • Education for behavioral changeEducation for behavioral change
– organizational (municipalities and business)organizational (municipalities and business)– personal, householdpersonal, household
NJ Stormwater Management RulesNJ Stormwater Management Ruleseffective February 2004. effective February 2004.
• Strict for major “new” Strict for major “new” development (>.25 acre development (>.25 acre of new impervious of new impervious surface)surface)– infiltrate stormwater into infiltrate stormwater into
the groundthe ground– high quality dischargehigh quality discharge
• Not too strict for Not too strict for redevelopment redevelopment (rebuilding on existing (rebuilding on existing impervious surfaces)impervious surfaces)
see njstormwater.orgsee njstormwater.org
Parcels with a Parcels with a change in type of change in type of
Land Use,Land Use, 1995 to 2002 1995 to 2002
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Municipal Stormwater Regulation ProgramMunicipal Stormwater Regulation ProgramMunicipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4; “Phase 2”) Permit ProgramMunicipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4; “Phase 2”) Permit Program
(started in 2004)(started in 2004)
Don’t feed the geese
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
• Determination of the maximum amount of a Determination of the maximum amount of a certain pollutant that a river or lake can receive certain pollutant that a river or lake can receive while still meeting designating uses while still meeting designating uses
• If there is a failure to meet designated use, the If there is a failure to meet designated use, the state must state must
– develop a TMDL for the offending pollutantdevelop a TMDL for the offending pollutant– develop a plan for reducing the load to below the develop a plan for reducing the load to below the
TMDLTMDL
• Areas not meeting secondary contact standard Areas not meeting secondary contact standard are under a TMDL for pathogen indicators – are under a TMDL for pathogen indicators – but implementation plan is not very specificbut implementation plan is not very specific
• Prescribes 95% reduction in Fecal Coliform!Prescribes 95% reduction in Fecal Coliform!
““Regional Stormwater Management Plans”Regional Stormwater Management Plans”
Robinson’s Branch ProjectRobinson’s Branch Projectwww.water.rutgers.edu/Projects/Robinsons/Robinsons.htmwww.water.rutgers.edu/Projects/Robinsons/Robinsons.htmProposes numerous ordinances, educational initiatives and Proposes numerous ordinances, educational initiatives and
in-the-ground projectsin-the-ground projects
•requiring low/no phosphorus fertilizer •forbidding no coal tar as asphalt sealant•requiring registration/education of landscaping professionals
•creation of a stormwater utility authority•catch-basin cleaning program•goose management•streambank stabilization
““Green” redevelopment Green” redevelopment aka “Low Impact Development” aka “Low Impact Development”
BASIC APPROACHBASIC APPROACH1.1. Reduce volume of runoff by …Reduce volume of runoff by …
• reduce amount of impervious coverreduce amount of impervious cover• infiltrate stormwater into the groundinfiltrate stormwater into the ground
2.2. Reduce peak flow rate of runoff by …Reduce peak flow rate of runoff by …• reduce volume of runoff as per #1reduce volume of runoff as per #1• detention pond, wetlandsdetention pond, wetlands
3.3. Reduce pollutants in discharge by …Reduce pollutants in discharge by …– detention ponds, wetlands, manufactured detention ponds, wetlands, manufactured
treatment devicestreatment devices
NOTE LOSS OF SIDEWALKS
ConstraintsConstraints
• retrofits expensive and disruptive retrofits expensive and disruptive
• very little land to use in urban areasvery little land to use in urban areas
• market acceptability still unproven market acceptability still unproven for some practicesfor some practices
• long-term performance unprovenlong-term performance unproven
Education for Behavioral ChangeEducation for Behavioral Change
• It’s relatively cheapIt’s relatively cheap
• But … But … – it is very difficult and never endingit is very difficult and never ending– Progress is slowProgress is slow
How do you reach people How do you reach people and get them to change?and get them to change?
Education for Behavioral ChangeEducation for Behavioral Change• Brochures – many availableBrochures – many available
www.cleanwaternj.orgwww.cleanwaternj.orgwww.epa.gov/enviroedwww.epa.gov/enviroed
How effective is distribution of information?How effective is distribution of information?
• Events, esp. Earth Day. River clean-upsEvents, esp. Earth Day. River clean-ups• Presentations to Community Groups (scouts)Presentations to Community Groups (scouts)• School programsSchool programs• New Jersey Watershed New Jersey Watershed
Ambassadors will helpAmbassadors will helpwww.nj.gov/dep/watershedmgt/www.nj.gov/dep/watershedmgt/ambassadors_index.htm ambassadors_index.htm
Don’t apply pesticides – they can runoff into the river and cause harm
Without pesticides, your lawn will still look ok, and you can be sure it’s safe for kids, pets and vegetables – you’ll never see this on your lawn!
SIMPLE THINGS SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO YOU CAN DO (OR STOP DOING)(OR STOP DOING)
Which is more Which is more important to you: a important to you: a weed free lawn or the weed free lawn or the health of kids and health of kids and pets?pets?
Are clover and dandelions weeds or wildflowers?
So-called “weeds” can add beauty and fun to your lawn. If you like them, they aren’t weeds!
Never dump oil or Never dump oil or other chemicals other chemicals down a storm down a storm drain inlet (or drain inlet (or anywhere else)anywhere else)
Take them to an oil recycling center or to Take them to an oil recycling center or to hazardous waste collection dayhazardous waste collection day
• Drive your car lessDrive your car less
• Make sure its not leaking fluidsMake sure its not leaking fluids
• Don’t wash it on the drivewayDon’t wash it on the driveway
More at More at www.cleanwaternj.orgwww.cleanwaternj.org
The End
Passaic River Institute, Montclair State Universityemail: [email protected]
web: www.primsu.org973-655-7117
Dr. Kirk Barrett, Director
Re- Acknowledge NJDEP Bureau of Water Re- Acknowledge NJDEP Bureau of Water Monitoring and Standards; Bureau of Monitoring and Standards; Bureau of Geographic Information SystemsGeographic Information Systems
