Transcript Storm drain markers
STORM DRAINS & SANITARY SEWERS
STORM DRAINS
WHAT IS A STORM DRAIN?
• Drains in the ground that conduct
water that collects during and after rain and snow storms on streets and sidewalks to other locations to reduce puddling and flooding.
• In Berea, our storm drains are
directed into the East Branch of the Rocky River and eventually flow into Lake Erie.
STORM DRAINS
STORM DRAIN POLLUTION
• Our biggest water quality problems don ’
t come from a discharge pipe. They come from stormwater washing off the land— roads and rooftops, lawns and construction sites, parking lots and driveways.
• The problems include the flooding volumes
of water that flow off the hard, impervious surfaces of our urban and suburban landscapes, as well as all the pollutants that are washed off these surfaces.
WHAT SHOULD GO DOWN A STORM DRAIN?
Stormwater, of course!
VARIOUS STYLES OF STORM DRAINS
STORM DRAIN MARKINGS
NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION
• Pollution that cannot be tied to a
single, identifiable source.
• Common non-point sources: – agriculture – forestry – urban – mining – construction – dams – channels – land disposal – saltwater intrusion – city streets
POLLUTANTS GOING TO WATERWAYS
• These pollutants include: – Fertilizers (agricultural & residential) – Herbicides (agricultural & residential) – Insecticides (agricultural & residential) – Oil – Grease – Toxic chemicals from urban runoff – Litter including cigarette butts &
chewing gum!
SANITARY SEWERS
• A sewer which carries sewage (liquid
or waterborne waste from plumbing fixtures) and to which storm and surface water, street runoff, and groundwater are not admitted intentionally.
• A sewer that transports only
wastewaters (from domestic residences and/or industries) to a wastewater treatment plant.
SANITARY SEWERS
WHAT SHOULD GO DOWN A SANITARY SEWER?
• Human waste • Dishwater • Laundry water • Reasonable garbage disposal
waste
• Bath water
WHAT SHOULD NOT GO DOWN A SANITARY SEWER?
• Goldfish! • Solvents such as paint thinner and
turpentine (toxic chemicals)
• Paints, urethanes & varnishes • Feminine hygiene products • Trash • Drugs
COMBINED STORM DRAINS & SANITARY SEWERS – COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS Storm drain on top of sanitary sewer. Notice there is no top to the sanitary sewer.
Storm Drain Sanitary Sewer
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS
. Older systems have combined sanitary/storm drains.
• Problems:
1. During heavy rains sewage will
“
overflow
”
into storm drain pipe (and vice-versa) and/or 2. The storm drain may clog (see photo below) backing up the storm water therefore causing overflow between sewage and storm water. The storm drain (now storm water & sewage) flow to the nearest surface water body (river, creek, lake, ocean) and contaminate the water. Common contaminant is Fecal coliform bacteria.
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS
Hey!
I ’ m broken!
Fix me… And Clogged! Yuck…
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS?
• Learn about the topic. • Don
’
t pollute!
• Educate others about storm
drains, sanitary sewers and the watershed.
• Volunteer for river clean-
ups. (May 16
th