Town of Rutland launches stormwater pollution campaign

The Town of Rutland is encouraging residents to get personally involved in reducing stormwater pollution. Through a new brochure and online resource, Water Wise: The Stormwater Website for Rutland Town, Vermont, the town is raising awareness about the most common causes of stormwater runoff pollution and what steps individuals can take to reduce this kind of pollution in local streams, such as Moon Brook.
Stormwater runoff occurs when excess water from rain or snowmelt does not soak into the ground. As the runoff flows over land or paved streets and parking lots, it picks up debris, chemicals, sediment or other pollutants along the way.
The pollutants can end up downstream in Otter Creek and even Lake Champlain and adversely affect drinking water, fish and wildlife, and recreational activities such as fishing and swimming.
Stormwater pollution can be caused by a variety of everyday household and business activities, including washing cars on paved surfaces, using too many chemicals on lawns, even improperly disposing pet waste.
The Town of Rutland public outreach campaign includes “numerous practical suggestions for keeping pollutants out of stormwater, such as proper auto care and maintenance, how to redirect downspouts, and how to build rain barrels and rain gardens.”
Town Administrator, Joseph Zingale, Jr., says, “It’s surprising how many things individuals can do to really make a difference and reduce the amount of stormwater pollutants going into our local rivers and streams.”
The effort is conducted as part of public education measures required by federal Environmental Protection Agency stormwater system permits. The Town of Rutland is also one of 13 communities across the state that the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation required to do more to control stormwater runoff to reduce pollution in the Lake Champlain watershed.
Source: Rutland Town – March 17, 2014 Link to Water Wise website: http://waterwise-rutlandtownvt.com