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Did you know that a typical city block generates more than five times as much rainwater runoff as a forested area of the same size?  This is because rooftops and pavement do not allow water to soak into the ground like forests, wetlands and grasslands do.  Instead, rainwater  runs off pavement into the nearest storm [...]

What does driving have to do with water pollution? Fuels burned while driving create nitrogen oxides that are released through a car’s tailpipe into the air. Nitrogen is the most abundant element in the air we breathe and essential to plant and animal life – but too much of it can contribute to the formation [...]

As the weather warms up, washing your car on the street or in your driveway may seem harmless, but do you ever wonder where all the dirt, grime and soap go after washing down your driveway and into the storm drain? Most storm drains discharge water directly into a local lake, stream or river untreated. [...]

Nitrogen and phosphorus are part of healthy aquatic habitats. These nutrients support the growth of underwater plants that provide oxygen and habitat for fish and other animals. They also support algae growth, which is a source of food for many fish and shellfish. Aquatic habitats can become unbalanced, however, when too much nitrogen and phosphorus [...]

When we think about oil pollution in estuaries and along the coasts, many of us think of the giant oil rigs and big spills like the Deepwater Horizon spill last year. But most oil pollution is generally the result of small spills and leaks from boats and ships. When oil comes into shallow waters and [...]

When it rains, what goes down the storm drain? As rain water flows over yards, driveways and city streets, it picks up pet waste, fertilizers and pesticides, oil from cars, trash and other pollutants. It’s tempting to think that storm water visits the local waste water treatment plant, but in most communities water that goes [...]

Trash and chemicals that end up in the street drain directly into our waterways. For example, old motor oil that is poured down a storm drain on the side of the street will wind up in Tampa Bay. Fertilizer and pet waste that do not get absorbed by lawns also flow into the streets, down [...]

The “Drip by Drip” Oil Spill Did you know that a quarter of a million gallons of oil are being “spilled” in the Northeast each day? Where does this oil come from? Us, our families, friends and neighbors! Some do-it-yourself oil changers dispose of their motor oil in the trash or pour used oil down [...]

Did you know that an average garden hose flows at at a rate of 10 to 16 gallons per minute? A broken sprinkler head wastes approximately 300 gallons of water per hour! Viewer Tip: With less than one percent of freshwater available for human use, water conservation is extremely important.  Help reduce your outdoor water [...]

Did you know that you can help the Gulf of Mexico without traveling beyond your driveway? Our region is part of the Mississippi River watershed, an area of land that drains rain water and river water into the Gulf of Mexico. When it storms here, rainwater carries pollutants like fertilizer from farms and lawns, motor [...]

Residential driveways can account for up to 15 percent of the total paved area in a city or state. These paved surfaces are “hot spots” for accumulation of pollutants like motor oil, antifreeze and yard care chemicals. During a storm, rain water picks up pollutants from paved areas and heads to the storm drain, which [...]

Rain gardens can cut down on the amount of pollution reaching creeks and streams by up to 30 percent. A rain garden is a planted depression that allows rainwater runoff from artificial urban areas like roofs, driveways, walkways and lawn areas to be absorbed. This reduces runoff by allowing storm water to soak into the [...]

AAA projects that 87.7 million Americans will be traveling more than 50 miles during the year-end holiday period.  About 88 percent of those travelers will be hitting the road and AAA expects to come to the aid of nearly 1.3 million stranded motorists this season. That help will come in the form of half-a-million tows; [...]

Rain is simply a part of life in the Northwest. But did you know that storm water runoff is one of the leading causes of water pollution in Puget Sound year-round? As rain water runs off yards and paved surfaces, it picks up pollutants such as oil, pesticides, fertilizers, trash, animal waste and soil. This often flows [...]

The U.S. EPA estimates that species extinctions will occur at a rate of one to eleven percent per decade between 1975 and 2015, with aquatic species facing a higher threat of extinction than bird or mammal species.  Many of the pollutants  that end up in  our rivers and streams - oil and other car fluids, household chemicals, pesticides, [...]

About five percent of Americans who change their own oil do not dispose of their used motor oil properly. When used oil is dumped outside or into a storm drain, it can be carried directly to local surface waters during the next rain. The US EPA estimates that used oil dumped from just one oil [...]

About five percent of Americans who change their own oil do not dispose of their used motor oil properly.  When used oil is dumped outside or into a storm drain, it can be carried directly to local surface waters during the next rain. The US EPA estimates that used oil dumped from just one oil [...]

A major pollution source in the St. Johns River watershed is rain water runoff from urban areas.  Rain water carries oil, trash, pet waste and other pollutants into storm drains in urban areas, which eventually lead to local rivers and streams.  Because the St. Johns River flows slowly, it is difficult for the river system [...]

Did you know that one gallon of oil can contaminate up to one million gallons of water?  When it rains, any automotive fluids – oil, antifreeze, and others – that have dripped onto driveways and streets can wash into the nearest storm drain, stream, or river.  Just one pint of oil can produce a slick [...]

The Woonasquatucket River flows about 19 miles south and east to downtown Providence, where it joins up with the Moshassuck River to form the Providence River.  While 19 miles may not seem very long, the Woonasquatucket Watershed actually drains about 50 square miles of land!  During rainy weather, motor oil and other chemicals in the [...]