By Jenn Jones , Environmental Stewardship Coordinator, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Published on November 14, 2007
(Click here to download the entire newsletter as a full-color PDF file)

The 35th anniversary of the Clean Water Act is upon us, so why are some waterways still too dirty for swimming, fishing or drinking? A big part of the problem is something called “nonpoint source (NPS) pollution.” This occurs whenever rain, snowmelt, or irrigation water picks up pollutants as it runs across the land before draining into waterways or underground aquifers.

Teaching students about NPS pollution is an important first step toward solving this serious environmental problem. A great way to do this is by taking action to address stormwater runoff on your school’s property using the hands-on learning experiences described in the “Guide to Stormwater Management on School Campuses,” the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary’s newest publication.

This easy-to-read booklet contains useful tools that can help any educator create green space, restore waterways, and improve the quality of life in their community. Whether you choose a one-time lesson like an infiltration test or a permanent project like a rain garden, your students will gain valuable skills that will not only help them learn science, but also foster a lifelong interest in the environment.

Installing a rain garden, for example, can provide children with an educational hands-on project consisting of five easy steps, all of which are conveniently described in this booklet. However, if you discover there is insufficient room on your school’s campus to carry out a project of this size, don’t worry. There are nine other lessons you and your students can use to combat NPS pollution.

For instance, installing a rain barrel onto a schoolyard downspout can be a great way to teach children about stormwater runoff. Students can use the rain they capture to water container plants and houseplants in and around their classroom, all while conserving and protecting their own drinking water supply.

Another idea described in the pamphlet is to work with your school’s facilities manager to brainstorm better ways its vehicles and equipment can be maintained. For instance, by washing lawnmowers on the grass, local waterways can be spared of the soap, oil and grease that would otherwise pollute them via nearby storm drains.

In all, there are countless ways to improve your school’s handling of stormwater runoff, and the Partnership’s new “Guide to Stormwater Management on School Campuses” will provide you with 10 great ways to start. A limited number of free booklets are available to teachers in the Schuylkill River Watershed of Southeastern Pennsylvania courtesy of the Philadelphia Water Department and the Schuylkill Action Network. Meanwhile, anyone can download its text simply by visiting www.DelawareEstuary.org. Please contact Jenn Jones at (800) 445-4935, extension 107, or JJones@DelawareEstuary.org for further details.