Stormwater runoff pollution is the leading threat to water quality in the Delaware Estuary. This occurs whenever rainwater and melted snow flows across impermeable surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks and streets. Rather than naturally soaking into the ground, this stormwater picks up debris, chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants on its way into sewers. This polluted water is then discharged as untreated runoff into the waterways we use for swimming, fishing, drinking water and more. Below are a few simple things that you can do to help combat this life-threatening form of contamination:
• Keep litter in its place: off the streets and inside trash cans.
• Only rain should go down storm drains, so never use them as garbage cans or waste dumps.
• Service your car regularly to keep engine fluids off the street and out of storm drains.
• Choose water-based paints.
• Bag or compost leaves to keep them from washing into storm drains and waterways.
• Minimize the use of toxic substances and substitute organic products whenever possible.
• Dispose of dog waste by bagging it and then flushing it down the toilet.
• Recycle! Doing so reduces refuse in landfills.
• Volunteer for our Storm Drain Marking Program.
• Tell a friend that everything we do on land affects water quality. Everyone can make a difference.
To download an informative fact sheet about household hazardous waste, please click here (PDF file). And to learn about household hazardous waste collection events in your area, please click on the links below based on your current state of residency:
To report someone who is littering, please write down that person's vehicle license plate and call:
• (800) 662-8802 in Delaware
• (856) 825-3700 in New Jersey, or (856) 455-8855 to report illegal dumping
• 1-888-LITTERBUG in Pennsylvania
Another way to combat pollution is to volunteer in your local watershed. In the Christina River Watershed, for example, approximately 320 tons of debris have been removed since 1992 thanks to the help of roughly 11,000 selfless volunteers who take part in the annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup. You too can make a difference simply by volunteering.
Copyright
2008 — Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
