STORM DRAINS

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• STORM DRAINS SANITARY SEWERS

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STORM DRAINS
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WHAT IS A STORM DRAIN?

• Drains in the ground that conduct water that
  collects during and after rain and snow storms on
  streets and sidewalks to other locations to
  reduce puddling and flooding.
• In Berea, our storm drains are directed into the
  East Branch of the Rocky River and eventually
  flow into Lake Erie.

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STORM DRAINS
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STORM DRAIN POLLUTION

• Our biggest water quality problems dont come
  from a discharge pipe. They come from stormwater
  washing off the landroads and rooftops, lawns
  and construction sites, parking lots and
  driveways.
• The problems include the flooding volumes of
  water that flow off the hard, impervious surfaces
  of our urban and suburban landscapes, as well as
  all the pollutants that are washed off these
  surfaces.

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WHAT SHOULD GO DOWN A STORM DRAIN?

• Stormwater, of course!

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VARIOUS STYLES OF STORM DRAINS
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STORM DRAIN MARKINGS
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NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION

• Pollution that cannot be tied to a single,
  identifiable source.
• Common non-point sources
• agriculture
• forestry
• urban
• mining
• construction
• dams
• channels
• land disposal
• saltwater intrusion
• city streets

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POLLUTANTS GOING TO WATERWAYS

• These pollutants include
• Fertilizers (agricultural residential)
• Herbicides (agricultural residential)
• Insecticides (agricultural residential)
• Oil
• Grease
• Toxic chemicals from urban runoff
• Litter including cigarette butts chewing gum!

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SANITARY SEWERS

• A sewer which carries sewage (liquid or
  waterborne waste from plumbing fixtures) and to
  which storm and surface water, street runoff, and
  groundwater are not admitted intentionally.
• A sewer that transports only wastewaters (from
  domestic residences and/or industries) to a
  wastewater treatment plant.

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SANITARY SEWERS
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(No Transcript)
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WHAT SHOULD GO DOWN A SANITARY SEWER?

• Human waste
• Dishwater
• Laundry water
• Reasonable garbage disposal waste
• Bath water

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WHAT SHOULD NOT GO DOWN A SANITARY SEWER?

• Goldfish!
• Solvents such as paint thinner and turpentine
  (toxic chemicals)
• Paints, urethanes varnishes
• Feminine hygiene products
• Trash
• Drugs

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COMBINED STORM DRAINS SANITARY SEWERS
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS

• Storm drain on top of sanitary sewer. Notice
  there is no top to the sanitary sewer.

Storm Drain
Sanitary Sewer
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COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS

• . Older systems have combined sanitary/storm
  drains.
• Problems
• 1. During heavy rains sewage will overflow
  into storm drain pipe (and vice-versa) and/or
• 2. The storm drain may clog (see photo below)
  backing up the storm water therefore causing
  overflow between sewage and storm water. The
  storm drain (now storm water sewage) flow to
  the nearest surface water body (river, creek,
  lake, ocean) and contaminate the water. Common
  contaminant is Fecal coliform bacteria.

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COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS
Hey! Im broken! Fix me
And Clogged! Yuck
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WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS?

• Learn about the topic.
• Dont pollute!
• Educate others about storm drains, sanitary
  sewers and the watershed.
• Volunteer for river clean-ups. (May 16th 2009)