Storm Water Runoff Causes, Harmful Effects, and How to Prevent Them.

Storm Water RunoffCauses, Harmful Effects, and How to Prevent

Them

Suburban areas are covered with buildings and pavement The impermeable surfaces prevent water from

infiltrating into the ground The water that does not infiltrate is called

runoff Harmful to water quality

Carries pollutants like oil, dirt, chemicals, and lawn fertilizers directly into the bodies of water

Runoff – What is it?

Natural landscapes with vegetation are able to filter water slowly into the ground

Forests and vegetation are especially helpful for limiting runoff in small flood events

Runoff – What is it?

Pollutants in runoff contaminate water sources Sediment Oil Grease Toxic chemicals Pesticides Viruses and bacteria Road salts and metal

Effects of Runoff

The sediment going into the Long Island Sound makes it one of the 1o most contaminated coastal locations in the U.S. Copper

concentrations are often found exceeding toxic levels

This contaminated sediment harms fish, wildlife, and vegetation.

Runoff in Long Island Sound

Contaminated sediment is having a notable effect on the Long Island Sound Study was completed

on dissolved metals using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy on an organic extraction in the Long Island Sound

Revealed as much as 218.2 pM of Ag (silver), 2.25 nM of Cd (cadmium), 25.13 nM of Cu (copper), and 499.8 pM of Pb (led)


Especially after a heavy rain/snow storm, the rain and melted snow carries all the pollutants like fertilizer, pesticides, and motor oil from the driveways, streets and lawns and deposits them directly into the Long Island Sound

Almost all pollutants left on streets or driveways will eventually end up in the Sound


According to the National Coastal Pollutant Discharge Iinventory, urban runoff is the third largest source of contamination in the Long Island Sound About 80% comes from coastal cities on the

western half of Long Island From Suffolk County to New Haven County

20% of chromium, 7% of nitrogen, and 5% of arsenic contaminants from croplands


There are many easy things citizens on Long Island can do to prevent harmful runoff including Replacing grass lawns with native

vegetation Using fertilizers sparingly (and not before

rainstorms) Sweep driveways and sidewalks instead

of using a hose Picking up after pets Checking cars for leaks Properly storing and disposing of

chemical wastes Having sewage systems regularly

checked Conserving water to extend life of septic

systems

How You Can Prevent Runoff

Some methods are difficult for individuals to complete, but you can appeal to local governments to Encourage use of porous

pavements Implement pollution

prevention strategies Reduce development

impacts Maximize surface

roughness, infiltration, and flow paths

How You Can Prevent Runoff

Caspan, et al. "Identification of Runoff Processes: The Impact of Different Forest Types and Soil Properties on Runoff Formation and Floods." Journal of Hydrology 409.3-4 (2011): 637-39. GeoRef. Web. 23 Mar. 2012.Coefield, Sarah. "EPA to Staunch Flood of Storm Water Runoff Polluting U.S. Waterways: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is Gearing up to Tighten Old Storm Water Rules." Environmental Health News 17 Feb. 2010: n. pag. Scientific American. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. <http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=stormwater-runoff>.Environmental Protection Agency. "Clean Water is Everybody's Business." Protecting Water Quality From Urban Runoff Feb. 2003: n. pag. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. <http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/nps_urban-facts_final.pdf>.Long Island Sound Study. N.p., 2012. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. <http://longislandsoundstudy.net/>.Rasmussen, Teresa J., and Heather C. Schmidt. "Storm Water Runoff: What it is and Why it is

Important in Johnson County, Kansas." USGS: Science for Changing the World 2009: n. pag. GeoRef. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. <http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2009/3103/pdf/ FS2009-3103.pdf>.Sweeney, Allison, and Sergio A. Sañudo-Wilhellmy. "Dissolved Metal Contamination in the East River– Long Island Sound System: Potential Biological Effects." Marine Pollution Bulletin 48.7-8 (2003): 663-70. GeoRef. Web. 23 Mar. 2012.Wolfe, D. A., et al. "Environmental Quality of Long Island Sound: assessment and Management Issues." Estuaries and Coasts 14.3 (1991): 224-36. SpringerLink. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. <http://www.springerlink.com/content/x173470568432804/fulltext.pdf>.

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Storm Water Runoff Causes, Harmful Effects, and How to Prevent Them.

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