Help prevent storm water pollution

  • Published
  • By Tim Turner
  • 14th Civil Engineer Squadron
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Storm water flow is the leading source of water pollution in the U.S. As storm runoff flows over our roads, parking lots and yards, the rain water picks up and carries away debris, chemicals, dirt and other pollutants through the storm drains to lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands.
Storm water pollution is defined as anything other than water that is carried to a storm drain or surface body of water. Polluted storm water threatens our natural resources, economy and recreation. As a steward of the land, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi is committed to protecting the water quality of our lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands that we all use and enjoy.
Traditionally, our water infrastructure, such as storm drains and culverts, has been treated as something to dispose of rather than something to protect. Development has fundamentally altered the way water moves through our landscape.
Take a moment to consider all the litter along our roadways and where it goes. Mississippi has a serious litter problem, 30 percent higher than all other states, with a high percentage of the litter being washed into our streams, rivers, and lakes or gradually covered by soil buildup or vegetation, no longer visible but not actually gone either.
We all need water and we all pay in one way or another when our water is polluted. Everyone plays a role in creating the pollution in storm water runoff, so we all have a responsibility in cleaning it up.
Unfortunately, most of us are unaware of how we impact water quality. The simple act of cutting grass ads nutrients to rainwater and those nutrients cause algae blooms in the Tombigbee River. Washing the car in the driveway puts soap, oil, and grit in the drains that flow to nearby streams. None of this is good for the fish in these waterways.
It’s important to remember that any type of surface water runoff, not just rainfall, can carry pollutants into our waterways. Preventing pollution from entering our waters is much more affordable than treating polluted water. Educating the community on how to protect and prevent pollution from entering our waterways is one of the best tools we can use to preserve these natural resources.
Below is a list of things you can do to help our waters.
• Only rain belongs down the drain! Dirty water needs to be put in the sink so it can be treated to make it clean again.
• Dispose of used motor oil and household waste properly.
• Wash your car at a commercial car wash.
• Keep your vehicles well maintained. Look for oil spots where you park and have them fixed.
• Use lawn or household chemicals as directed. Excess chemicals just waste money and wind up in the water.
• Check the weather forecast before you mow your lawn. Allow the clippings to dry at least a day before it rains to reduce nutrient runoff.
• Plant native, low maintenance plants and grasses.
• Always clean up pet waste. The nutrients contribute to algae growth and fecal coliform in the water.
• Keep your septic system well-maintained to prevent leaks and overflows.
• Plant a rain garden to naturally clean up rain water.
• Keep Mississippi beautiful. Do not litter!
The public health and environmental implications are tremendous. The investments we make today are ones we will live with tomorrow and possibly decades to come. Every step counts to ensuring the health and well-being of our children and grandchildren for the future.