Stormwater Pollution Prevention
The City of St.
Augustine Beach is taking steps to improve the quality of our
surface waters by reducing the amount of pollution carried to
our rivers due to stormwater runoff.
Stormwater is water that
originates from rain and enters the City’s stormwater system.
Precipitation that is not absorbed into the ground due to an
impervious surface, like concrete or asphalt, is considered
stormwater runoff.
The City’s stormwater
system is designed to collect stormwater runoff in catch basins
and storm drains and channel that water to our waterways using a
network of underground pipes that make up our stormwater system.
A variety of toxic pollutants are washed from the streets and
parking lots into storm drains, creeks, rivers, and ultimately
to the ocean. These pollutants include leaking oil, antifreeze,
and gasoline from motor vehicles; copper dust, which is released
from motor vehicle brake pad linings; rubber tire dust; soaps
and chemicals used to wash motor vehicles; waste motor oil from
vehicles, lawn mowers, and small equipment; and fertilizers,
pesticides and insecticides. This type of pollution is called
non-point source pollution due to the fact that it comes from
many unidentifiable sources making it hard to regulate and
prevent.
Stormwater pollution has
a significant effect on surface waters and is a major problem in
cities all over the country.
How you can Help
The best way to reduce stormwater pollution is to stop it at its
source. Keep your storm drains clean and free of debris.
Remember that pollutants flushed down storm drains directly
affects the quality of our rivers and could possibly make them
unsafe for boating, fishing, swimming and other water related
activities. Here are some tips to help keep our waterways clean:
·
Don’t work
on your car in a place where oil and grease could be washed into
street gutters. Used motor oil should be contained and taken to
a collection center. Most automotive shops provide this service.
·
Grass
clippings should be bagged and disposed of with yard waste.
Dumping grass clippings down a storm drain can slow storm water
flow and clog the drains.
·
Do not wash
dirty paint brushes under an outdoor faucet. Chances are the
dirty rinse water will flow into a storm drain and into our
rivers. Water-based paints can be washed in the sink and oil
based paint should be cleaned with a paint thinner, filtered
out, wrapped in newspaper and discarded with the trash.
·
Pet
droppings should not be discarded into storm drains or left in
the yard. Clean up pet droppings and dispose of them in the
garden, trash bins, or in the toilet.
·
When washing
your vehicle, park on grass or some other area that can absorb
the runoff water. Washing your car on the street sends all the
chemicals used to clean your car into a catch basin and directly
into our water.
·
Use
pesticides sparingly and don’t fertilize right before it rains.
·
Try to keep
trash and other debris out of gutters and away from catch
basins.
Report Illegal Dumping
Dumping waste down storm drains is not only bad for the environment
but is illegal. If you have questions or a complaint please call
the City of St. Augustine Beach Public Works Department at
904-471-1119 or email at sabpwd@bellsouth.net.
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