WHY SHOULD YOU

Caring for our

800
Phone: 304
Charleston, WV 25305
1900 Kanawha Blvd., East
Watershed Resource Center
THINK ABOUT RUNOFF &

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DRAINAGE?

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Your property is one small part of a

Roads and

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big picture. Collectively, with other

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homes in your area, it represents a
significant source of surface runoff.
When rain falls or snow melts the
Rivers

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water is absorbed into the ground as
surface flow, which is runoff. As
more houses, roads, driveways, and Erosion and
parking areas are constructed, the
amount of ground covered by
sedimentation, occur
impermeable surfaces increase. naturally as a result of
These impermeable surfaces reduce runoff from
the amount of available ground to
absorb water. The result can be a
development. This
significant increase in runoff that sediment and erosion is
can damage driveways, roadways, a serious challenge to
and wash pollutants into rivers and
streams. This problem exists
water quality and road
throughout West Virginia. maintenance. This is a
guide to what
individuals can do to
protect their property
and help ensure our
rivers and roads are
cared for properly.

Watershed Resource Center

1900 Kanawha Blvd., East
25305--0193
Charleston, WV 25305
THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE Phone: 304 558--0382
304--558
How does water move through 800 682--7866
800--682
the watershed? Where does your Fax: 304 558--0373
304--558
water come from? Where does it Email: wrc@wvca.us
go?

What is Nonpoint Source (NPS)
Pollution?
Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution,
unlike pollution from industrial and sewage
treatment plants, comes from many diffuse
sources. NPS pollution is caused by rainfall
or snowmelt moving over and through the
ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and
carries away natural and human-made
pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes,
rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and even our
underground sources of drinking water.
These pollutants include:
• Excess fertilizers, herbicides, and
insecticides from agricultural lands
and residential areas;
• Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from
urban runoff and energy production;
• Sediment from improperly managed
construction sites, crop and forest
lands, and eroding streambanks;
• Salt from irrigation practices and acid
drainage from abandoned mines;
• Bacteria and nutrients from livestock,
pet wastes, and faulty septic systems;
• Atmospheric deposition and
hydromodification are also sources of
nonpoint source pollution.
What are the effects of these
pollutants on our waters?
States report that nonpoint source
pollution is the leading remaining cause of
water quality problems. The effects of non-
point source pollutants on specific waters
vary and may not always be fully assessed.
However, we know that these pollutants
have harmful effects on drinking water
supplies, recreation, fisheries, and wildlife.
What causes nonpoint source
pollution?
We all play a part. Nonpoint source
pollution results from a wide variety of
human activities on the land. Each of us can
contribute to the problem without even
realizing it.
What can we do about
nonpoint source pollution?
We can all work together to reduce
and prevent nonpoint source pollution.
Some activities are federal responsibilities,
such as ensuring that federal lands are
properly managed to reduce soil erosion.
Some are state responsibilities, for example,
developing legislation to govern mining and
logging, and to protect groundwater. Others
are best handled locally, such as by zoning
or erosion control ordinances. And each
individual can play an important role by
practicing conservation and by changing
certain everyday habits.
• Keep litter, pet wastes, leaves, and
debris out of street gutters and storm
drains--these outlets drain directly to
lake, streams, rivers, and wetlands.
• Apply lawn and garden chemicals
sparingly and according to directions.
• Dispose of used oil, antifreeze, paints,
and other household chemicals properly,
not in storm sewers or drains. If your
community does not already have a
program for collecting household
hazardous wastes, ask your local
government to establish one.
• Clean up spilled brake fluid, oil, grease,
and antifreeze. Do not hose them into
the street where they can eventually
reach local streams and lakes.
• Control soil erosion on your property
by planting ground cover and stabilizing
erosion-prone areas.
• Encourage local government officials to
develop construction erosion/sediment
control ordinances in your community.
• Have your septic system inspected and
pumped, at a minimum, every 3-5 years
so that it operates properly.
• Purchase household detergents and
cleaners that are low in phosphorous to
reduce the amount of nutrients
discharged into our lakes, streams and
coastal waters.
(taken from EPA's Polluted brochure EPA-
841-F-94-005, 1994)