Calendar

May 6, 5:30pm-7:30pm
Build your own Rain Barrel Workshop
FULL AS OF 4/9/08.

May 10, 10am-Noon
Build your own Rain Barrel Workshop
FULL AS OF 4/14/08.

May 10, 1pm-3pm
Build your own Rain Barrel Workshop
FULL AS OF 4/14/08.

May 12-18
Prevention Does a Body Good Week

June 7
Freecycle Free-For-All

June 28, 9am-11:30am
Yard Smart Garden Walk

To Get Involved in Upcoming Clean Water Events - click here!

To get involved in local planning processes affecting watersheds go to:

East Side Highway Corridor Study

Lake Bloomington Watershed Management Planning

Stormwater

Sources

Stormwater comes from rain and anything else that the rain carries along with it when it runs along the ground. This water is usually only filtered for large objects and ends up entering the rivers, streams and other bodies of water. In this mainly untreated state it affects not only the home of many aquatic animals, but your own drinking and bathing water as well.

What is Point-Source and Non-Point Source Pollution?

Stormwater can include water from both point-sources and from non-point sources. Point-source locations can create such pollutants as chemical runoff, oil leaks, sewage and bulk trash. Non-point sources cause pollution from car fluid leaks, fertilizers from farms, pesticides from gardens, paint, if dumped into the sink or toilet in your home, trash from littering, and "natural" litter, such as grass clippings, leaves or animal feces.

What are the Environmental Impacts

Stormwater pollution harms plants, animals and human beings. Impacts on plants and animals are:

• reduction of light penetration caused by sediment in the water, which affects photosynthesis, the process that allows plants to use light as their source of energy
• supply of oxygen becomes reduced when green waste decays in water, taking vital oxygen away from plants, fish and other aquatic animals
• soil pollution clouds up waterways, causing fish to suffocate by clogging their gills
• litter clogs waterways and causes toxicity as it breaks down. It affects the health of birds, fish and other animals and plants that live in the waterways.

Impacts on humans are:

• bacterial risk, making it dangerous to swim immediately after rain
• ugly pollution destroys the visual amenity of our waterways
• pollutes drinking and bathing water.

What Can You do to Stop Non-Point Source Pollution?

There are many things that people can do to stop this pollution.

• Changing or stopping everyday activities such as littering or dumping unused paint down the drain can help.
• Make every effort to put trash into the proper receptacles, and recycle whenever possible.
• Clean up after your dog when taking him or her for a walk.
• Stop using chemicals on your lawn, or if necessary, use environmentally friendly products.
• Here is a listing of local stores that sell ecologically safe lawn and garden products at our Products & Suppliers page.

Join us for stormdrain stenciling and stream clenaup events in Bloomington Normal!