General Stormwater Awareness Training Environmental Health, Safety & Risk Management

More impervious cover = more runoff What is Stormwater? Stormwater is precipitation (rainwater) that originates during a storm event. Rainwater that does not soak into the soil and grass is called stormwater surface runoff. This stormwater runs off impervious covers such as roofs, streets, parking lots, concrete, etc. More impervious cover = more runoff Not good Diagram (right) shows stormwater runoff process from start to finish. Diagram (left) shows runoff comparison between natural cover and impervious/paved cover. General Stormwater Awareness Training

Storm Drain/Curb Inlet Where Does it Go? Storm Drain/Curb Inlet Stormwater runoff flows toward storm drains and into a system of underground piping Stormwater runoff flows directly into our creeks and rivers, untreated and unfiltered Stormwater Wastewater Unlike wastewater, stormwater does not go to a treatment plant. It flows directly from the streets, to storm drains, to underground piping and into the nearest waterway. Outfall General Stormwater Awareness Training

Stormwater Runoff: The Dirty Truth Stormwater runoff contributes to problems in water quantity (flooding) and water quality (pollution) Unfiltered stormwater can have contaminates and bacteria such as: Oil and gasoline Fertilizers Pesticides Soil Soap Grass clippings Litter Pet waste Cigarette butts Leakey vehicles can oil or gas puddles on roads and parking lots, routine yard maintenance can cause fertilizers/pesticides/soil/grass clippings to end up in storm drains, litter/cigarette butts from all over town can wash into storm drains, and pet waste that has not been picked up can wash into the nearest waterway. The only thing that should go down storm drains is clean rainwater! General Stormwater Awareness Training

The San Marcos River is our treasured water for recreation… We have one of the most unique, as well as the most gorgeous, campuses in the state. We have a great opportunity for recreation. General Stormwater Awareness Training

San Marcos River …and home to several threatened and endangered species. Texas Blind Salamander (Endangered) Texas Wild Rice (Endangered) San Marcos Salamander (Threatened) However, our activities should not negatively impact the creatures that reside in the river. Be mindful that you are recreating in someone’s home. Please be respectful of this sensitive and unique environment. It’s not just a fun place to tube, kayak or fish. The river is their home. General Stormwater Awareness Training

What’s Wrong With This Picture? Due to contaminates in the water, the oxygen amount is low, and this fish cannot breathe. These can be sediment particles, litter, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or any other physical or chemical contaminate that should not be in stormwater runoff. General Stormwater Awareness Training

What’s Wrong With This Picture? Leaves/yard waste that is not disposed of properly (bagged up and/or composted) can end up in storm drains and result in plugging of the storm drain system and pollution of the river. General Stormwater Awareness Training

What’s Wrong With This Picture? Bulky waste left on the side of the road can contribute to stormwater pollution. General Stormwater Awareness Training

What’s Wrong With This Picture? Unstabilized soil at this site lead to sediment in the stormwater runoff. General Stormwater Awareness Training

Stormwater Runoff Pollution Prevention A Joint Effort

MS4 Permit San Marcos was designated as an urbanized area as of 2010 Population measured at 50,000 by census More people = more urbanization = more potentially polluted stormwater runoff Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit Mandated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Requires Texas State to take extra measures to protect our natural resources Texas State permit issued 11-12-2014 has several requirements, one of them is training General Stormwater Awareness Training

Texas State: What We Do to Prevent Stormwater Pollution Sediment and erosion controls at construction sites Texas State requires construction areas to have controls in place to prevent contaminated stormwater runoff (left photo). Because stormwater runoff is not before entering the river, Texas State has implemented about 40 stormwater control measures called Best Management Practices. Top photo: rain garden at UAC, holds rainwater and filters it into the soil. Bottom left photo: porous paver parking lot at River House, water does not runoff, infiltrates into pavement through cracks (acts like a field of grass). Bottom right photo: rainwater cistern, hooked up to gutters on roofs, collects rainwater to use for irrigation or other things instead of running off into storm drains. Proper use of silt fencing Designed to capture sediment so it does not exit the site during rainfall In good condition No holes, not falling over Proper use of curb inlet protection Designed to prevent sediment/ other contaminates from entering the storm drain system In good condition No holes, not pulled back General Stormwater Awareness Training

Texas State: What We Do to Prevent Stormwater Pollution Post-Construction Best Management Practices Porous Paver Parking Lot Acts like a field of grass, designed to filter water before exiting Virtually no runoff Rain Garden/Rentention Pond Designed to hold water and filter it before exiting Rainwater Cistern Collects and filters water from roof, used for vegetation watering General Stormwater Awareness Training

There is more we can do… General Stormwater Awareness Training

What Can You Do? Respect and protect our river Good Neighbor Practices Don’t litter, pick up trash others leave behind Recycle your cans & water bottles Encourage others to do the same Good Neighbor Practices Bring back whatever you take to the river (cans, bottles, etc.) Consider use of reusable containers Mesh bags for single-use containers While recreating at the river, be respectful and dispose of all trash appropriately. General Stormwater Awareness Training

BAD What Can You Do? Report Illegal Dumping Don’t throw items or dump chemicals down storm drains If you see someone doing it, report it immediately Call the local stormwater manager Be aware of your surroundings (address, street names) Try to get a picture if possible Do not pick up materials; they could be hazardous Report any illegal activity to either of the contacts below City of San Marcos: (512) 393-8036 Texas State University, EHSRM: (512) 245-3616 We will be administering a hotline number this year, stay tuned! BAD Storm drain inlets are not appropriate receptacles for waste. If you witness anyone improperly disposing of waste, please report it to the appropriate sources. General Stormwater Awareness Training

What Can You Do? Dispose of materials properly Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off & Bulky Waste Pick-Up Call City of San Marcos 512-393-8026 Service is for residents only On-campus Recycling EHSRM Office – 512-245-3616 Batteries Ink Jet Cartridges Electronics Cell phones Pack it Up and Pass it On Pick up after your Pooch Pet waste not disposed of properly can end up in the river Bacteria in waste can make swimmers sick HHW Dropoff is available for any San Marcos resident (excluding people living on-campus). Bulky waste pickup is available for any resident living in a house. Both services are free. On campus recycling is provided through Texas State Environmental Health, Safety & Risk Management. For full list of battery recycling locations, contact EHSRM at 512-245-3616. General Stormwater Awareness Training

In San Marcos, we keep our river clean! What Can You Do? Volunteer! Great Texas River Clean Up Electronics Recycling Event Keep San Marcos Beautiful Adopt-a-Spot Storm Drain Marker Program Community Relations Volunteer Newsletter In San Marcos, we keep our river clean! SM River Clean-Up & Electronics Recycling Event take place in Spring. KSMB is year round and Storm Drain program in the works. If anyone wants to get signed up for Comm Relations newsletter, contact Kim Porterfield at kp10@txstate.edu General Stormwater Awareness Training

Be on the lookout for Sally the Salamander! Winning art for manhole cover art contest. Will be on new storm drain manhole covers in new construction projects to differentiate between sanitary sewer/storm sewer. General Stormwater Awareness Training

Winning Manhole Cover Art San Marcos and Texas State hosted a manhole cover art contest in the Fall of 2013. The winning art (shown left) was chosen to differentiate storm drains from other manhole covers around town and on campus. General Stormwater Awareness Training

You will now take a short quiz to test your knowledge on stormwater. Stormwater Quiz You will now take a short quiz to test your knowledge on stormwater. July 22, 2012 Footer text here

Question 1 Which of the following are permitted to go down a storm drain? Leaves Biodegradable soap like Simple Green Cigarette butts Only rainwater July 22, 2012 Footer text here

Answer Which of the following are permitted to go down a storm drain? Only rainwater July 22, 2012 Footer text here

Question 2 Why do we have to protect the rivers and creeks around San Marcos? It’s a popular place for swimming, kayaking and tubing & we should protect the river users There are several threatened and endangered species and we should respect their habitat Texas State is responsible for managing its stormwater through the MS4 permit All of the above July 22, 2012 Footer text here

Answer Why do we have to protect the rivers and creeks around San Marcos? All of the above July 22, 2012 Footer text here

Question 3 If you’re a resident of San Marcos, who can you call to remove bulky waste from your yard (couches, beds, etc.)? The EHSRM office at Texas State The City of San Marcos Don’t call anyone, leave it there & someone will eventually come by and pick it up July 22, 2012 Footer text here

Answer If you’re a resident of San Marcos, who can you call to remove bulky waste from your yard (couches, beds, etc.)? The City of San Marcos July 22, 2012 Footer text here

Question 4 It’s raining and you see a can floating down the street and into a storm drain. Where will it go? The nearest waterway, a river or creek, untreated and unfiltered To the wastewater treatment plant It will be treated and filtered then discharged into the nearest waterway July 22, 2012 Footer text here

Answer It’s raining and you see a can floating down the street and into a storm drain. Where will it go? The nearest waterway, a river or creek, untreated and unfiltered July 22, 2012 Footer text here

Question 5 What do you do if you see someone dumping a container of unknown material down a storm drain? It’s ok, this practice is not prohibited; call no one Call the EHSRM office at Texas State or the campus hotline number Try to take a picture and know your location so you can properly report B and C only July 22, 2012 Footer text here

Answer What do you do if you see someone dumping a container of unknown material down a storm drain? B and C only July 22, 2012 Footer text here

Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management Office Questions? Contact Information: Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management Office 512-245-3616 General Stormwater Awareness Training