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Runoff pollution: we hear about it all over, and we know the many different ways we can prevent it but changing the ways we do things and being more careful about using certain things. However, there is something you can do that causes almost no change in lifestyle at all. Set up a rain barrel, and you will be significantly and conveniently protecting local rivers and streams from runoff pollution.

And you wouldn't be only helping the environment. According the the Web site, rain water is actually best for your lawn.

“Rain water is softer than tap water; it has no chlorine, lime, or calcium,� said the Web site. “It has less sediment and dissolved salts and is warmer than tap water. It is excellent (some say better) for watering plants and for window or car washing.�

Why is this important?

“Runoff from impervious surfaces adds up,� said the Web site. “Too much water in the streams erodes their channels and destroys habitat. Excess runoff from yards and gardens can cause erosion problems and can wash things like lawn fertilizer into the stream causing nutrient overloads.�

If you are interested in purchasing a rain barrel, visit the Web site for more information. Rain barrels can be purchased from many gardem catalogs, and you can also make your own.

“If you attach a soaker hose to your rain barrel you can trickle water locations under the eaves or shaded by trees or a garage,� said the Web site. “This allows gardens to grow in these locations and saves ever having to use a sprinkler.�

The site has many other links and resources for buying and making rain barrels.

We all know that water pollution is a big problem—we hear about it everywhere. However, few people know how much they contribute to the problem. Just because you don't throw your garbage into the lakes and streams doesn't mean you don't harm them other ways.

The site says that some water pollution even starts as air pollution, which settles into waterways and oceans. Dirt can also be a pollutant—top soil or silt from fields or construction sites can run off into waterways, harming fish and wildlife habitats.

A little bit from everyone adds up, and we are all guilty. With this in mind, I'm sure you are wondering: How does this directly affect you?

“Non-point source pollution, commonly called runoff pollution, can make river and ocean water unsafe for humans and wildlife,� said the runoff Web site. “Drinking water supplies can be contaminated by polluted runoff, as can coastal waters containing valuable fish stocks. Humans who come in contact with these polluted waters and affected fish can also experience harmful symptoms.�

More than one-third of the shellfish-growing waters of the United States are adversely affected by coastal pollution.

Of course, there are people out there trying to correct this problem, but it is costly.
“Each year millions of dollars are spent to restore and protect areas damaged or endangered by non-point source pollutants,� said the Web site.

However, this money spending is not necessary; there are many ways that we can all prevent this contamination from happening in the first place, saving millions of dollars.

The Web site listed the following, rather simple, solutions to runoff pollution:
-Get educated and share your knowledge!
-Don't pour oil, engine fluids, cleaners, or household chemicals down storm drains or sinks.
-Find approved motor oil and household chemical recycling or disposal facilities near your home, and make
sure your family and friends use them.
-Use lawn, garden and farm chemicals sparingly and wisely. Before spreading chemicals or fertilizer, check
the weather forecast for rain so they don't wash away.
-Repair automobile or boat engine leaks immediately.

With all of this talk about runoff, we hear a lot about how it starts and where it ends up, but nobody ever talks about the journey. In order to be fully aware of the problems and solutions of runoff pollution, we need to understand watersheds—something that many people don't know much about.

It's a simple definition, but there is a lot to watersheds.

Watershed basics (from the Web site):
Houses, open fields, office buildings and forests are all part of a watershed. While every inch of land belongs to a complex, physical network of watersheds, the natural high areas of land describe a watershed’s boundary. High and low points of the land determine how rain water that falls onto tree leaves and rooftops eventually finds its way into our waters.

Because we all belong to a watershed, our actions affect the health of our watershed. Common activities like walking the dog, taking care of the lawn and driving the car leave behind pollutants. As rain water moves through the watershed, it picks up bacteria and chemicals, and carries them to our streams, rivers, lakes and coasts. Improper disposal of motor oil, pet waste and overfertilization of a lawn all contribute to this pollution. Because of its many random sources, we all share responsibility for this pollution — called nonpoint-source pollution.
A watershed’s most common nonpoint-source pollutants are bacteria and nutrients. Leaks from septic systems and pet waste are common sources of bacteria. When rain water washes the bacteria to nearby streams and lakes, it makes those water bodies unsafe for swimming and fishing. Nutrients most commonly come from yard fertilizer (which contain nitrates and phosphates), but they’re also present in pet waste and septic system wastewater. Rain water washes excess nutrients from lawns into waterways, where they cause algae blooms that lower the amount of oxygen in lakes and streams to levels harmful or fatal to aquatic plants and animals.

The Web site also has a lot of great ways to protect your watershed, keeping it safe from pollution:

Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly
-Extra nutrients in the water supply disrupts the natural harmony between animals and plants of an ecosystem.

Have septic systems inspected for leaks and capacity
-Contamination of the water supply is harmful to plants, animals and people.
Conserve water
-Overwatering can damage lawns and plants and places extra stress on our water

There is also an organization called the Watershed Steward that pledges to keep watersheds safe. Some of their pledges include:
• Do not sweep leaves, grass clippings, or trash into storm sewers or the street
• Removes trash that they see along curbs and gutters
• Compost yard waste or leave it on the property or take it to a WLSSD or other official
collection site
• Sweep up and properly dispose of sand from winter street sanding
• Make sure that bare spots are rapidly "fixed" and that no soil erodes from their property
• Properly dispose of oil and other car waste and fix leaks
• Wash vehicles on their lawn or at a car wash
• Clean up after their pets
• Reuse, recycle and dispose of household waste, pharmaceuticals and personal care
products, chemicals, and electronic waste properly
• Minimize the use of lawn fertilizers and pesticides; test their soil before applying a
product containing phosphorus fertilizer