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Stormwater and Stormwater Pollution
Stormwater is water from rain or snow melt that doesn't soak into
the ground but runs off into water bodies and wetlands. It flows
from developed areas, including rooftops, over paved areas and bare
soil, and across lawns while picking up a variety of materials on
its way. Stormwater runoff typically drains to water bodies and
wetlands untreated. As it flows, stormwater runoff collects and
transports soil, pet waste, salt, pesticides, fertilizers, oil and
grease, trash, debris and other potential pollutants to the
receiving water body.
Impact of
Stormwater Pollution
The
quality of stormwater runoff is affected by many factors and depends
on the season, local meteorology, geography and upon activities
which occur in the flow path. Polluted runoff degrades our lakes,
rivers, and wetlands and interferes with aquatic habitat and plant
life.
Nutrients in runoff, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, can promote
the overgrowth of algae, deplete oxygen in receiving water bodies
and be harmful to aquatic life. Toxic chemicals from automobiles,
sediment from construction activities and careless application of
pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers may also threaten the health
of the receiving water bodies. Bacteria from pet wastes and illicit
connections to sewerage systems can make nearby water bodies unsafe
for recreational activities such as wading, swimming and fishing.
Preventing Stormwater Pollution
According to an inventory conducted by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), one half of the impaired
waterways are affected by urban/suburban and construction sources of
stormwater runoff. Everyone has a role in reducing the impacts from
stormwater runoff, from the large developer to the homeowner.
UMaine maintains a Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MEDEP)
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) general permit that
enables UMaine to discharge our stormwater to the Stillwater and
Penobscot Rivers, and adjacent MS4s. UMaine’s stormwater management
program works to protect surface and groundwater impacted by
stormwater flows from construction, facility maintenance, and waste
management activities.
Where non-stormwater discharges are detected, UMaine must take steps
to locate and eliminate the discharge from our stormwater system.
UMaine must also take steps to educate employees and students on
proper stormwater management strategies and create volunteer cleanup
opportunities such as Maine Day and municipal street and stream
cleanups.
UMaine’s
Stormwater Management Program as a Resource
This
website is a vehicle where students, faculty, staff and community
members can report non-stormwater discharges at UMaine. We want to
hear from you should you discover a stormwater pollution incident at
UMaine, such as a chemical spill, an act that could result in a
spill, discolored water from one or more of our out falls to the
rivers, dirt and silt migration from a construction site, and
similar conditions.
This website also provides extensive information on UMaine’s
program, to include information on street and stream cleanup
projects, pollution prevention strategies, UMaine’s best management
pactices, and an attitude survey you can complete to help us
understand what you know about stormwater management issues.
For additional information about UMaine’s Stormwater Management Program,
please contact Scott Wilkerson at 581-3049 or via
stormwater@umit.maine.edu.
Thank You
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