FAQ

What is building lot erosion and sediment control?

What are common types and sources of non-point source pollution?

How Can I Help in the Fight Against Non-point Source Pollution?

Lawn and Landscape Tips for Clean Water

What is a watershed?

What Is Non-point Source Pollution?

Building Lot Erosion and Sediment Control

Simple Practices to Help Water Quality

Sediment is a product of soil erosion from bare, unprotected areas. Sediment laden storm water run off from construction sites and individual building lots is a major source of non-point source pollution in Summit County. Too much sediment entering our streams and lakes can destroy the habitats of aquatic organisms, impede recreational opportunities, and decrease property values.

In addition to the water quality issues generated from soil erosion, sediment that flows or that is tracked onto the roadways from individual building lots can be a major health and safety issue. Mud-covered streets can become slippery, thus creating a traffic hazard. Sediment tracked onto the roads and streets also has direct access into the storm sewer systems and roadside ditches where it can clog them resulting in the flooding of streets and yards.

There are several basic practices and principles, that if properly followed by a builder or homeowner, can reduce erosion and sedimentation from individual building lots and provide a better overall building experience.

	Seeding - Bare soil is very susceptible to soil erosion. A temporary or permanent vegetative or mulch cover is the most effective way to control erosion and sediment run off.
	Stone Construction Entrance - Traffic is unavoidable on a building lot or construction site. Restricting access to a stone construction entrance will reduce the amount of mud that is tracked onto the road by construction vehicles during wet periods.

	Silt fence and other perimeter controls - Install silt fencing or vegetative buffers on the down slope side(s) of the building lot to filter storm water run off and prevent sediment from flowing into the streets or off site during a storm event.
	Inlet protection - Install inlet protection in the storm drain inlets located in the curb and gutter or ditches adjacent to building sites. These devices will trap any sediment that gets through the other individual lot practices. Remember, inlet protection devices require regular maintenance to remain effective. Any accumulated sediment needs to be placed back up on the lot (don’t flush it through the system!)
	Provide for adequate drainage – It is easier to prepare and plan for adequate surface water drainage before construction begins, than it is to correct a drainage problem after a home is constructed. Surface water should drain away from the building into the storm water conveyance system. Do not fill existing channels and roadside ditches. The structure should have at least six inches of fall for the first ten feet around it.
	Downspout extenders – These temporary devices capture roof drainage and route it around bare soil areas to the storm water conveyance system.
	Maintenance - Maintain all erosion and sediment control practices until the entire site is stabilized.

By following the simple practices listed here, a builder or individual lot owner can have a positive impact on water quality, and help to provide a safe construction and living

environment as well. If you need additional assistance, contact the Summit Soil and Water Conservation District at (330) 929-2871.

Common Types and Sources of Non-point Source Pollution

You may not have to look much further than your own back yard to see sources or the effects of non-point source pollution. This type of pollution affects humans as well as the organisms that live in polluted lakes and streams.

Non-point source pollution can be broken down into five major categories: sediment, pathogens, nutrients, toxins and debris.

· Sediment is defined as mineral or organic material including sand, soil and gravel. Over one billion tons of sediment pollute the nations waters each year. Once eroded, sediment is easily transported by water to our streams and lakes where it can destroy aquatic habitat, smother aquatic life and alter stream flow. Sediment can also be transported into the storm sewer system where it can reduce the capacity of the system resulting in clogged pipes and flooding. Other pollutants can readily attach to soil particles adding to the pollution loading of our lakes and streams. Major sources of sediment include poorly protected construction sites and building lots, farm fields, roads, gardens and unstable stream Banks.

· Pathogens are disease-causing micro-organisms such as bacteria or viruses that come from human or animal waste. Direct contact or ingestion of these organisms can cause a variety of health problems. Pathogens that wash off the land and enter our waterways are generated from animal waste, improperly functioning septic systems, leaky sewer lines, combined sewer overflows and boat sanitary disposal systems.

· Nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, are elements that stimulate plant growth. Nutrients are beneficial and necessary for plant growth, but in excess, they become an environmental threat. Nutrients can enter our lakes and streams from livestock or pet waste run off, fertilizer lawns, failing septic systems or combined sewer overflows. Excess nutrients can lead to massive algae blooms and weed-choked lakes. The decay of this algae can cause odors and rob ponds and lakes of the oxygen necessary that is so vital to aquatic life.

· Toxic Contaminants are substances that can harm the health of all organisms. They are created by a wide variety of human activities and products and include heavy metals, pesticides, and organic compounds like PCBs. These materials accumulate in the sediment or in the tissue of living organisms causing long-term damage. Fish consumption health advisories are a result of the concern over toxins. Oil, grease and gasoline from streets and chemicals used in homes, gardens, lawns and farm fields are major sources of toxic contamination. Many people believe that their individual actions do not affect the environment, but consider that one quart of motor oil poured down a storm drain, can contaminate 250,000 gallons of water.

· Debris or trash is the simplest type of non-point source pollution to understand and prevent. Litter can interfere with the enjoyment of your property and water resources and can be a health threat to aquatic organisms. Typically, debris starts as street litter that is carried into storm sewers during rain events and ends up in our streams and lakes.

The various types of non-point source pollution and solutions to some of these pollution issues will be discussed in more detail in future newsletters. For more information contact the Summit SWCD Office at (330) 929-2871.

How Can I Help in the Fight Against Non-point Source Pollution?

Simple Lifestyle Changes Can Make a Big Difference

How can the average Summit County resident or homeowner help in the fight against non-point source pollution?

	Reduce the amounts of pollutants you generate by using lawn chemicals sparingly. (Read those labels- then try using a little less!)
	Learn how to properly dispose of household hazardous wastes. Determine the products that can safely be disposed of in your trash and the materials that must be disposed of at a hazardous materials recycling facility like the one in Stow.
	Clean up after your pet(s) and properly dispose of waste.
	Keep your septic system in good working condition. Inspect and pump your system regularly. Do not divert storm drains or basement sump pumps into your septic system.
	Seed and mulch bare areas on your property to prevent erosion.
	Use low or no-phosphorous detergents.
	Remember the philosophy *reduce, reuse and recycle!*

Get Involved!

Become involved with your neighborhood and community.

	Attend public meetings and become familiar with your community’s environmental regulations if any.
	Support legislation designed to protect water quality by writing and calling elected officials.
	Share your knowledge and experiences with others.
	Vote for candidates who support environmental protection.
	Be a good role model for others.

You’d be surprised at how simple changes in your lifestyle can make a difference.

Lawn and Landscape Tips for Clean Water

Could your lawn or garden be a source of water pollution? Most definitely yes! Maintaining those lovely, green lawns and lush landscapes often requires the use of fertilizers and pesticides, that when used in excess, can be harmful to the environment.

Applying too much fertilizer to your lawn can lead to run off into nearby streams and lakes producing algal blooms that hurt water quality. Water bodies become green, smell foul and aquatic life is harmed. You can imagine how that affects neighboring property values.

How can the average homeowner help to improve water quality? One of the most important things you can do is to become aware of what and how you use lawn care products around your property.

Healthy lawns add beauty and value to our homes and can reduce erosion, filter run off, and encourage rainwater to soak into the ground. But do we need a ton of fertilizer and pesticides to accomplish this task? Studies have shown that over 70% of all lawns are regularly fertilized whether they need it or not!

Some of the following tips can reduce your lawn care chemical needs, which will help improve water quality and save you time and money!

	Have your soil tested on an annual basis to determine the fertilizer needs of your lawn. Remember, more is not always better
	Practice good lawn mowing techniques: -Mow high (2 ½ inches) and often! - Leave clippings on your lawn (don’t bag). They are a free and natural source of nutrients!
	Annual core aeration promotes good root development and water infiltration.
	Seed bare areas and cover with mulch to keep soil protected and prevent erosion.

	Sweep all fertilizer and grass clippings off paved areas and put back on your lawn.
	Do not apply chemicals adjacent to storm sewers, ponds or streams.

Leave a natural (not mowed) buffer between water bodies and lawn areas to help filter pollutants before they enter your lake or streams.

Plant grasses that are best suited for our area. Look for high quality turf grass mixtures at your local garden center. Base your purchasing decision on wear tolerance, site location (sun, shade) and maintenance. You may pay a little more but in the long run, it’s worth it.

Choose landscape plants that have low fertilizer and water needs. Native plants are a good choice. Remember – proper plant selection for your site is critical!!

Healthy trees and shrubs do not require annual fertilizer applications. Over fertilizing produces more growth which, in turn, requires more maintenance!

Don’t apply pesticides over the entire lawn. At first sign of a pest problem, mechanically remove it or spot treat the problem area.

Timing is critical! Weed and pest control products should be applied during the proper life cycle of the insect or plant, otherwise you may harm the turf and fail to solve the problem.

	Use the proper material for the problem. Many pesticides are pest specific. Appling the wrong product is a waste of money, time and puts chemicals needlessly into the environment.
	Try natural or more environmentally friendly alternatives. Materials such as soap, ashes, oils, salt, sawdust, garlic and seaweed sprays, and copper have been used successfully for ages. Try organic fertilizers such as animal manure, decomposing leaves, and bonemeal.

Choose plants that are more resistant to diseases and pests. Plant gardens in raised beds for closer plantings, better root development and better drainage.

Clean water is essential to our quality of life. We can help to protect our rivers, streams and lakes by rethinking and reducing our use of pesticides, fertilizers and other household chemicals. Contact the Summit SWCD (330) 929-2871, the Stark/Summit Extension Service (330) 497-1611, or your local garden center for more information.

The Watershed—Stream Connection

We All Live Downstream

A watershed is the land area where water flows across or under the ground to a stream, river, marsh, or lake. Large rivers often begin as tiny headwater streams that spring from groundwater in hillsides, or as outlets from wetlands or lakes. Some are temporary—forming during snowmelt or heavy rains; others are permanent—fed by groundwater or by other streams.

Healthy watersheds support high-quality streams. High-quality streams have good tree cover (to cool water temperatures thereby retaining high oxygen levels) and rocky bottoms (allowing water to tumble and mix which raises oxygen levels). Maintaining a high oxygen level is vital for the organisms living in the water. Healthy streams also transport sediment, but not so much that you can see it (except during heavy storms).

Sustaining high quality streams begins with how we treat the land—our watershed. Problems can arise within our watersheds when areas that once were natural become more urbanized. Here are few common impacts of urbanization.

	Shade trees and other vegetation disappear from the landscape and the area is replaced with hard surfaces that rainwater cannot penetrate. Water that cannot soak into the ground adds to the volume of storm water runoff going our streams.
	Concrete and asphalt heat up in the sunlight, increasing the temperature of the runoff entering streams.
	Stream channels receiving more storm water than they are meant to carry, respond by getting deeper and wider to accommodate the excess water. This erosion process weakens stream bank stability.
	Trees on unstable banks fall into the channel, damming stream water which can result in flooding.
	Excess soil can wash into streams if proper erosion control measures are not in place at construction sites, or anywhere that soil is disturbed, fouling water quality.
	Excess lawn care chemicals can adhere to soil particles being washed into streams.
	Trash in neighborhoods can be carried into streams by way of storm sewers.

In summary, too much storm water runoff creates a “domino effect” of other problems within a stream. Our everyday activities can and do affect our watershed and the water quality of the streams flowing through it. There are some simple things every watershed resident can do to help.

	Allow ONLY rainwater to go down your storm drain. Keep the area around it clean. Educate your neighbors by sponsoring neighborhood clean-ups.
	Protect water quality by protecting the land next to streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Promote the voluntary use of “setbacks” which protect areas adjacent to streams. These naturally vegetated areas help to: slow fast-moving storm water entering streams, promote infiltration, capture excess sediment and pollutants, give the stream room to roam (since they alter their courses over time), and cool runoff. If you live next to a stream, give it some space, and vegetate the area with shrubs and other natural plants. It will help to protect you, too!
	Support government leaders and those running for office who promote ideas for

resource protection.

Remember that protection of water resources is easier and cheaper than restoration. You have a say as to what happens within your watershed. Each of us plays a part because everyone lives in a watershed and everyone lives downstream!

Non-point Source Pollution . . .What Is It

Should You Be Concerned?

Non-point source pollution is a technical term for storm water run off that is polluted. It is generated from many different sources over a large area and is difficult to trace and to control. Water washing over the land, whether from a rain shower, car washing or the watering of lawns and gardens, picks up virtually anything in its path including oil, sediment, lawn chemicals, bacteria, nutrients and toxic materials. This contaminated run off finds its way into our streams and lakes, either directly or through our storm sewer systems.

The term, “non-point” is used to distinguish this type of pollution from “point source” pollution, which comes from a specific source such as a sewage treatment plant or an industrial manufacturing facility. Point source pollution is easier to identify and measure.

Scientific evidence has shown that huge strides have been made in cleaning up point source pollution, but our lakes and streams are still threatened by non-point source pollution.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, non-point source pollution is the single largest cause of the deterioration of Ohio’s and Summit County’s water quality today.

Concern over polluted run off has resulted in an increasing number of federal, state and local laws enacted over the last five years. Recent amendments to the Clean Water Act (1972) has placed the burden of addressing some of the waster quality issues associated with non-point source pollution on the local communities here in Summit County. Last year, Summit County Council adopted the Riparian Setback Ordinance to address surface water quality as well as health and safety concerns of the residents of Summit County. For more information, contact the Summit SWCD at (330) 929-2871.