Union County Conservation District Rain Barrel Workshop

Sponsors  Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts  Foodswing  Pennsylvania American Water Thank you for your help!!

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The Chesapeake Bay  Nation's largest and most productive estuary. The Bay provides recreational and commercial opportunities for humans and is "home" for many animals.  Over recent years, the Bay has become a "victim" of pollution. Many Pennsylvania land use practices affect water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.

The Chesapeake Bay Basin  Stretches from upstate New York to Virginia. The drainage area covers 64,000 square miles or 41,000,000 acres.  Pennsylvania makes up over one-third of the entire Chesapeake Bay Basin, more than any other state.  About half of Pennsylvania (52%) lies within the Chesapeake Bay Basin.  Within Pennsylvania's portion of the Chesapeake Bay Basin, the Susquehanna River drains 92% of the watershed.  Three million people, or about one-quarter of the entire Chesapeake Bay Basin population, lives in Pennsylvania

The Susquehanna River  Flows 440 miles from New York through Pennsylvania and Maryland and into the Chesapeake Bay.  The Susquehanna River has an average flow of 19 million gallons of water per minute, the highest average flow of any river in the eastern United States.  The Susquehanna River supplies 50% of the freshwater entering the Bay.

Nutrient Pollution  Caused by excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus -- impacts local water quality and the Chesapeake Bay.  Excess nutrients cause an overgrowth of algae, called algae blooms. Algae blooms deplete oxygen supplies and block sunlight needed by aquatic plants and animals.  Pennsylvania contributes an estimate 36 percent of the nitrogen and 25 percent of the phosphorus entering the Bay.  Animal manures and commercial fertilizers can pollute local waterways if applied in excess of crop needs.

The Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Program  A cooperative project between state, federal, and local agencies and organizations  A voluntary effort of Basin landowners to help reduce agricultural runoff; a nonpoint source pollution control program within Pennsylvania's portion of the Bay watershed.  A technical and financial assistance program for farmers who are interested in installing prescribed management practices to reduce water pollution.  An educational outreach effort teaching farmers, students homeowners, local governments, and private industries about Pennsylvania's connection to the Chesapeake Bay.

Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) - 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. - 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.

NPS Pollutants Excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas; Excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas; Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production; Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production; Sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding streambanks; Sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding streambanks; Salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from abandoned mines; Salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from abandoned mines; Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and faulty septic systems; and Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and faulty septic systems; and Atmospheric deposition and hydromodification Atmospheric deposition and hydromodification

Affects of NPS Pollutants the leading cause of water quality problems. The effects of NPS 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. the leading cause of water quality problems. The effects of NPS 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 Can We Do? Keep litter, pet wastes, leaves, and debris out of street gutters and storm drains--these outlets drain directly to lake, streams, rivers, and wetlands. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Encourage local government officials to develop construction erosion/sediment control ordinances in your community.

What Can We Do Con’t…. Have your septic system inspected and pumped, at a minimum, every 3-5 years so that it operates properly. 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. Purchase household detergents and cleaners that are low in phosphorous to reduce the amount of nutrients discharged into our lakes, streams and coastal waters. Manage animal waste to minimize contamination of surface water and ground water. Manage animal waste to minimize contamination of surface water and ground water. Protect drinking water by using less pesticides and fertilizers. Protect drinking water by using less pesticides and fertilizers. Reduce soil erosion by using conservation practices and other applicable best management practices. Reduce soil erosion by using conservation practices and other applicable best management practices. Use planned grazing systems on pasture and rangeland. Use planned grazing systems on pasture and rangeland. Dispose of pesticides, containers, and tank rinsate in an approved manner. Dispose of pesticides, containers, and tank rinsate in an approved manner.

Questions??