Back to simple ways to save the bay

Illustration: Daniel Vasconcellos

Avoid Storm Water Runoff

Stormwater runoff is one of the greatest threats to the health of the Buzzards Bay ecosystem.

Storm drains on nearly all of the watershed's streets divert rain flows, sediments, bacteria, litter, and other contaminants out to the nearest water body or wetland. All pollutants that get into these drain systems end up in the Bay.

Impacts to the Bay come in several forms:

• One quart of oil can pollute a million gallons of water and create a 2-acre oil slick. One cup of oil can kill thousands of baby quahogs.
  
  
• Other car fluids such as antifreeze, brake and power steering fluid and transmission fluid are all highly toxic to people, fish, birds and pets.
  
  
• Grass clippings and leaves can clog storm drains, leading to street flooding, or they are carried directly to the Bay. Then they decompose, adding too much enrichment for sea life handle and use oxygen that fish need to live.
  
  
• Runoff of lawn and garden fertilizer makes algae bloom in the Bay (and in ponds and lakes). This uses up oxygen, killing fish and shellfish. Also, pesticides and herbicides are poisonous to Bay life.
  
  
• Plastic and foam items wash down storm drains and into the Bay. They can kill sea life if eaten (plastic bags are often mistaken for jellyfish) or if animals get tangled in them. Also, they can last hundreds of years since they decompose very slowly.
  
  
• Sediments such as sand, dirt and organic matter can smother shellfish and aquatic plants.
  
  
• Animal and human wastes that wash through storm drain lines carry bacteria that are harmful to marine life, aquatic plants and people.

You can help minimize the negative impacts of stormwater runoff in the following ways:

1. Don't dump anything down storm drains. They were designed to transport water, and only water, off our streets.
   
   
2. Recycle used motor oil and antifreeze. Use antifreeze made with propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.
   
   
3. Perform proper maintenance on your automobiles. A well-cared for auto is less likely to drip fluids onto our streets.
   
   
4. Bring hazardous wastes to a local hazardous waste drop off day.
   
   
5. Compost your lawn clippings and leaves.
   
   
6. Avoid using pesticides; use insect traps and helpful insects to control pests. Handpick bugs; spray plants with soapy water, then rinse vigorously.
   
   
7. Recycle plastics or make sure they get properly disposed of in the trash.
   
   
8. To improve infiltration of rainwater, construct driveways and footpaths with gravel crushed stone, brick, or wood rather than asphalt or concrete.
   
   
9. Install house gutters and downspouts that discharge onto the lawn, not onto the pavement.
   
   
10. Maintain a healthy lawn by regular maintenance and reseed when necessary. Let grass grow a little longer to further slow runoff.

This page was adapted from text written by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.