Keeping Waste in Its Place: Controlling and Preventing Non-Stormwater Discharges

• Published in: Watershed protection techniques Vol. 4; no. 1; p. 127
• Main Author: Anon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ellicott City Center for Watershed Protection, Inc 01.01.2010
• Subjects: Best management practices; Coastal plains; Coastal zone management; Freshwater; Waste disposal; Water treatment
• ISSN: 1073-9610

While stormwater runoff typically dominates the hydrology of most urban watersheds, "non-stormwater discharges," which include sanitary and combined sewer overflows, septic system failures, overboard discharges from marine sanitation devices, illegal discharges to the storm drain system, and other sources, can be found in most urban watersheds and can also be an important source of pollutants. Consequently, non-stormwater discharges may be a significant source of the pollutants causing impairment in the watersheds of the coastal plain. Preventing and controlling non-stormwater discharges should be an important part of watershed protection and restoration efforts as the discharge of raw sewage into local waterways where people recreate is a huge and often unrecognized public health issue. Here, controlling non-storm water discharges, a techniques that involves making decisions on how to control discharges from waste water disposal systems, illicit connections to storm water systems, pollution from household and industrial products, and other point sources of water pollution, is described.