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Storm Water Resources and Training Material
Easy things you can do to clean up our waters:
- Don’t dump chemicals, pet waste, yard waste, or other garbage into storm ditches, culverts, storm sewers, storm drains, or catch basins.
- 40% of water pollution is caused by motor oil which is 100% recyclable. If you change your own oil, dispose of it properly. Many auto shops and oil change businesses take recycled oil. Or, if your area has hazardous waste disposal events, save it for one of those.
- Clean up leaves and grass clippings that accumulate on your driveway, sidewalk, or street. Never dump yard waste along stream banks, over hill sides, or into the street.
- Wash your car at a commercial car wash, or, if you must wash your car at home, do so on the lawn.
- Minimize your use of salt on driveways and sidewalks.
- Sweep (do not wash) fertilizer and soil off of driveways and sidewalks.
- If you use a septic system, make sure it is maintained in good working order.
- Cover or seed all bare soil and preserve stream side vegetation. Sedimentation (or soil) is our number one water pollutant by volume.
- Avoid overuse of fertilizers and pesticides. Test your soils to determine the amount needed and apply only when necessary.
- Store household chemicals, such as oil, gasoline, antifreeze, paint, stain, and pesticides, properly. For proper disposal procedures, call your local jurisdiction.
- Pick up litter whenever you see it. This includes cigarette butts. The filters take 10 years to decompose and can contaminate our waterways.
For information about what you can do to manage storm water and protect local water quality check out these ideas and links:
Regional Storm Water Collaborative of Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky
Butler County Soil and Water Conservation Workshops
Butler County Soil and Water Conservation District
Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District
What You Can Do to Prevent Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution
After the Storm Video
What Is Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS)?
Protecting Water Quality from Urban Runoff (PDF)
Take the Stormwater Runoff Challenge (PDF)
Make Your Home the Solution to Pollution (PDF)
For youth educational resources check out these links:
Resources for Students and Educators about Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution
Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District
Butler County Soil and Water Conservation District
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District: Educational Resources
Webinars, Websites, and More
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water Resources
Municipal Storm Water Training Resources
Storm Water Training & Outreach
The Ohio Stormwater Association (OSWA) is a group of public and private citizens dedicated to advancing the management of stormwater and related natural resources through education, leadership, watershed-based coordination and technical assistance in Ohio. OSWA provides educational and networking opportunities for people focused on reducing the negative impacts of stormwater runoff. The OSWA provides educational meetings on topics of interest to our members and sponsors the Ohio Stormwater Conference held each spring. This link will redirect you from Ohio EPA’s website to the OSWA website:
Storm Water Videos from Ohio EPA
TEMPEST IN A CHANNEL: STORM WATER RUNOFF’S IMPACT ON URBAN STREAMS
Tempest in a Channel: Storm Water Runoff’s Impact on Urban Streams is a 15-minute program that explains in general terms how the actions of private citizens can contribute to pollution of storm water runoff, and how increased areas of impervious surface that result from new development create increased volumes of runoff that have to be managed.
The video also discusses how “low-impact development” concepts can be incorporated into new construction projects to better manage the increased volumes of storm water runoff typically created from new development. Reducing the amount of runoff, or relying on existing natural features at a site, often can lead to cheaper, more effective storm water management strategies. In the short-term, costs are lowered because less piping or other infrastructure is required. Over the long-term, savings can be realized because fewer controls require less maintenance, and natural controls do not need to be replaced.
THE MUCK STOPS HERE: CONSTRUCTION SITE EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL BASICS
Ohio EPA, in cooperation with the Summit Soil & Water Conservation District, produced an 11-minute video highlighting preferred approaches for pollution control from regulated construction projects. The Muck Stops Here: Construction Site Erosion and Sediment Control Basics is a training tool that provides specific examples of effective practices seen at active construction sites. It targets local inspectors who enforce municipal storm water regulations and have a basic knowledge of sediment and erosion control requirements.