Education

Despite many forms of pollution from factories and mines having been cleaned up and/or being heavily regulated to prevent pollution, there is still a lot of pollution reaching the river. How is it getting there? One way pollutants reach the river is through the underground storm sewer system. 

Most of Brighton's ground is covered by impervious surfaces such as buildings, roads and parking lots that do not allow rainwater to soak into the ground. Because these surfaces prevent rainwater from soaking into the ground, the storm drainage system carries these flows efficiently to local ponds and rivers to prevent flooding of roadways and homes. Unlike the sanitary sewer system - which carries household wastewater - the storm drainage system does not flow to a treatment plant, making it important to be mindful of what is entering the system. Rainwater flows from our roofs, driveways, and roads into the storm drains picking up pollutants along the way. This type of pollution is referred to as non-point source pollution. Examples of non-point source pollution include excess fertilizer and pesticides from landscapes, car oil and grease from pavement, sediment from construction sites, and bacteria and nutrients from pet and livestock waste.

These urban non-point source pollutants affect the waterbodies we use for swimming, fishing, and our potential drinking water source. By using simple housekeeping practices around your work and home, residents, business owners and farmers can help minimize pollutants that enters our storm drainage system.