1. Stormwater 101: What you can do to improve Stormwater Quality Katherine A. Lewis June 28, 2008

2. Water Basics  All of the water we have is all the water we will EVER have.  Water is essential to life

3. Watershed The land area from which surface runoff drains into a stream channel, lake reservoir or other body of water.

4. Georgia’s Major Watersheds

5. DeKalb’s Major Watersheds

6. Stormwater Management

7. Stormwater Management cont.

8. Nonpoint source pollution  Erosion Sediment  Fertilizers, pesticides  Leaking septic systems  Runoff from roads and parking lots  Illicit spills and illegal dumping

9. How Healthy Is Our Water?  Much better than 30 years ago  Federal regulations –Clean Water Act 1972 –Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974

10. How Healthy Is Our Water?  Local regulations –MNGWPD Plans Wastewater Water Supply Watershed  Always room for improvement

12. Simple Pollution Prevention: Automotive  Use a commercial car wash  Check your car for leaks –Repair them quickly  Absorb spilled fluids with kitty litter or sand  Recycle used automotive fluids

13. Simple Pollution Prevention: Home Repair/ Improvement  Use paints, solvents, and cleaners in the smallest amount possible  Clean paint brushes in a sink, not outdoors*  Dispose of excess paint through a collection program or through donation

14. Simple Pollution Prevention: Lawn and Garden  Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly  Select native plants and grasses that are drought and pest resistant  Sweep up yard debris rather than blowing it down the storm drain

15. Simple Pollution Prevention  Pick up pet waste and dispose of it properly  Have your septic system inspected every 3-5 years and pumped if necessary  Spread the word about pollution prevention

16. TEST YOUR WATER KNOWLEDGE

17. What percentage of the human body is water? A. 33% B. 45% C. 66% D. 85%

18. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily can decrease the risk of... A. colon cancer by 45% B. breast cancer by 79% C. bladder cancer by 50% D. all of the above

19. How much water does an individual use at home daily? A. 20 Gallons B. 50 Gallons C. 100 Gallons D. 120 Gallons

20. How much water does it take to make a car? A. 600 Gallons B. 9,500 Gallons C. 26,000 Gallons D. 39,000 Gallons

21. How much of the Earth’s water is suitable for drinking? A. 1% B. 15% C. 50% D. 85%

22. What is DeKalb County’s drinking water source? A. Chattahoochee River B. Lake Sydney Lanier C. Peachtree Creek D. It just appears in my home