Urban Runoff: Storm drains are designed to protect against flooding by channeling rain water to creeks, rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Unfortunately, storm drains have no filtration system. This means that water carrying pesticides and fertilizers from our lawns, trash from our streets, oil and anti-freeze from our cars and driveways, and many other pollutants - go directly to our water ways untreated. 60-70% of trash found in the ocean comes from urban runoff. It is important that we take steps to ensure that only water is making its way into our storm drains and here are ways you can help: + Never dump oil, soaps, dirty water, or grass clippings into a storm drain. + Pick up after your animal. Animal waste is harmful to humans and marine life. + Don’t litter! Litter will make it to our oceans. + Sweep your driveway instead of watering it! It saves water and helps keep polluted water from entering storm drains. + Use little fertilizers in your yard. Fertilizers are harmful to the ocean because they cause Algae to bloom, depleting oxygen from the water and allowing less sunlight through to the ocean below. + Use drought tolerant plants! They are easy to maintain and require less watering. + Contact your City Public Works department and ask them what steps they are taking to help keep trash and pollution out of our water!
Further Education: My Watershed Watch.org EPA.govhttp://www.mywatershedwatch.org/http://www.epa.gov/nps/urbanmm/shapeimage_5_link_0shapeimage_5_link_1
The Issues: + Pollution in Our Oceans + Urban Run-off + Sustainable Seafood + Disappearing Wetlands pollution.htmlsustainableseafood.htmlwetlands.htmlshapeimage_7_link_0shapeimage_7_link_1shapeimage_7_link_2shapeimage_7_link_3
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