We All Live Downstream
Rain keeps our forests in the Pacific Northwest green. Raindrops also wash off our roofs, across lawns and down onto streets and parking lots, carrying chemicals from our yards and automobiles to local waterways. These chemicals are absorbed by small organisms that are eaten by fish, birds and animals and can disrupt reproduction and ability to fight disease. Cleaning up polluted runoff is required by federal law but can be very expensive. A cheaper and healthier alternative is to reduce chemical use around your home or use alternatives when possible. Another good strategy is to construct rain gardens and swales that reduce the amount of water that runs off our properties and paved surfaces and capture pollution.
Viewer Tip: The next time it rains, see if you can identify the places around your home or workplace where water runs off into the street and down storm drains. Your county or city public works department has free information and advice on how to reduce the amount of water that runs off your property and how to reduce and eliminate toxic chemical pollution in the water that runs off the land.
Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
This information is brought to you by People For Puget Sound, part of Restore America’s Estuaries. Learn more at www.PugetSound.org.
