Response 9: Stormwater in my cup

According to the 3 Rivers Wet Weather Demonstration Program, nearly every time it rains in Pittsburgh stormwater and raw sewage pollutes the rivers. The Allegheny County Health Department and the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority created this non-profit organization in 1998 to tackle water quality and raise awareness about stormwater and untreated sewage.

To be honest, stormwater is nothing new. Clean water and pollution is an issue everywhere I live whether it’s my small Michigan hometown or a big city such as Pittsburgh. However, stormwater is a much larger issue in a heavily populated area because of the greater number of cars and residents and the resulting contaminants. I see evidence of rainwater overflow every time it downpours in my neighborhood. Water bubbles up through storm drains along the road, gushes into ditches and runs across concrete where it will pick up more oil and dirt. Eventually, the filthy mess runs directly into a waterway or is absorbed by the ground and potentially enters ground water. I cringe just thinking about all of the contaminants that might make their way into my glass. At home in Michigan, my parents have a well. We drink water that comes directly from ground water, which is fresh and clean. In Pittsburgh, though, I am not as lucky. Considering that I live within the city limits, I wouldn’t dare drink water from a well because I worry about all of the pollution. Instead, I rely on the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority to deliver treated water from the Allegheny River to my tap.

The trouble is, people rely on the city to clean their water when in fact people can provide clean water for themselves by paying more attention to how they lives their lives. Any time that we allow contaminants such as oils, chemicals, fertilizers, human or pet waste to mix with rain or ground water we are harming ourselves.

As part of their mission, the 3 Rivers program raises awareness regarding how homeowners can do their part to tackle this issue of clean water. Some recommendations include the following:

1. Limit use of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers.
2. Mow lawns no lower than 3” inches in height to slow runoff.
3. Increase amount of nearby vegetation to absorb as much rainfall as possible and reduce stormwater runoff.
4. Install rain barrels beneath gutters to collect runoff from roof tops. (Reuse water on house and lawn plants.)
5. Keep up with vehicle maintenance to prevent leaks and reduce oil use.
6. Never dump chemicals on the ground or into a storm drain as they may enter waterways.
7. Wash cars on gravel, grass or dirt so that the ground will absorb the dirty water and filter it naturally.
8. Pick up pet waste.

There are countless other recommendations, but you get the picture. The basic idea is to prevent anything that has the potential to pollute water from entering our waterways. A non-profit environmental group in my hometown, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, went so far as to teach area businesses how to plant rain gardens to absorb stormwater. These gardens are a depression filled with plants—preferably native plants that are more resistant to weather-related stress—that collect rainwater runoff from roofs, driveways, sidewalks and other impermeable surfaces, thereby preventing stormwater from flowing directly into lakes or streams.

Obviously, stormwater affects me directly. When neighboring families spread fertilizer across their lawn to keep the grass nice and green or hose down their concrete steps to wash away accumulated dirt, these mindless acts increase the amount of contaminants entering storm drains and therefore my drinking water. I could confront my neighbors to explain that what they are doing is actually harming the water supply, but I don’t. I would much rather let a knowledgeable professional from a local environmental organization do it. So in that sense I am part of the water quality problem. I am also a culprit because whether or not I raise awareness about water quality, I am a source of pollution not matter how environmentally friendly I try to be. Since I live in an apartment, I may not have a yard to fertilize, but I still own a car and create waste. How I can help, though, is to keep my car maintained (which I do) and be a responsible citizen who does not litter or dump chemicals on the ground. I just wish other people would do the same because when I fill my cup before mealtime I want the water to be crystal clear and healthy, sans oil, dirt and pet waste.