Residential Runoff—Slow It Down, Keep It Clean BT Runoff—Slow It Down, Keep It Clean To reduce runoff from the solid surfaces around your home, replace them if possible with porous

Small Community Wastewater Issues Explained to the Public

B

Winter 2010Vol 21, No. 1

he rain and snowthat flows awayfrom your homeand property has

great potential for adverselyaffecting your community’ssource water. According tothe most recent NationalWater Quality Inventory,runoff from urbanized areasis the leading source ofdegradation to all water. Asone of the earth’s caretakers,there are steps you can taketo help reduce these effects.

Limit Paved SurfacesA large part of our residen-tial landscape is covered bypaved surfaces such as side-walks, parking lots, roads,and driveways. Due to thesolid surfaces like pavementand rooftops, a typical cityblock generates five timesmore runoff than a forestedarea of the same size.

These paved surfaces preventwater from percolating intothe ground and insteadcause runoff to flow intostorm drains. This rain orsnowmelt also picks up heatfrom the paved surfaces aswell as oil, grease and trash,all negatively affecting thereceiving water.

T

Residential Runoff—Slow It Down, Keep It Clean

To reduce runoff from thesolid surfaces around yourhome, replace them if possiblewith porous surfaces. Side-walks and driveways can bereplaced with small pavingblocks, porous paving asphalt,cobbles or gravel. Paved side-walks and patios can beexchanged for wooden deck-ing, gravel, brick, pavingstones, mulch, grass or othernatural groundcovers. Thesepermeable surfaces allowrainwater and snow to slowlyseep into the ground.

Build a Rain GardenRain gardens are speciallydesigned low areas land-scaped with plants that soakup stormwater from your roof,driveway and other solid sur-faces. They can also be usedas a buffer to shoreline areasto capture runoff from thehome landscape before itenters a lake, pond or river. Toreduce storm drain overload,many states are encouraginghomeowners to install raingardens.

These shallow depressions orretention ponds hold runoff

An established rain garden. Photo courtesy of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Residential Runoff - Slow It Down, Keep It Clean

2PIPELINE – Winter 2010; Vol. 21, No. 1 National Environmental Services Center (800) 624-8301 or (304) 293-4191

and butterflies, whileimproving local waterquality.

A rain garden can beas simple or as compli-cated as you want. Youcan construct it your-self if the design issimple or hire specialcontractors for moreelaborate schemes. Ifpossible, this retentionpond should be placedin a naturally-occur-ring low spot in youryard. You will have todig to create such adepression if the land-scape is level. Depend-ing on the drainagepotential of your localsoils, you may have to replace some of the soil with sand orgravel to encourageadequate drainage. Your raingarden should drain withinfour hours after a one-inchrain event. You must preventstanding water that allowsmosquitoes to breed.

Rain gardens should be situat-ed at least 10 feet from yourhouse but near a gutter outletor a paved surface. However,they should notbe built over theseptic tank, nearany walls orover any buriedutilities.

The plants youchoose shouldbe able to toler-ate both wetand dry condi-tions. Most raingardens are drythe majority of the time.Native plants are often thebest choices for these situa-tions; many wildflowers,sedges, ferns, shrubs andsmall trees tolerate thewet/dry cycle of rain gardens.Rain garden plants should be

selected to match this situa-tion. Your local extensionagent should be able to sug-gest suitable varieties.

Rain gardens require somemaintenance to functionproperly. During the first year,the most important work iswatering and weeding. Ayoung garden needs about an

inch of water perweek until it isestablished. Anestablished gardenneeds to be weed-ed, cleared of plantdebris and re-mulched in thespring and fall.

Use a Rain BarrelRainwater harvest-ing, collecting rain-

water from impervioussurfaces and storing it for uselater, is a technique that hasbeen used for millennia.Recently, many areas of theU.S. have been experiencingextensive periods of drought,

and give water time to soakslowly into the ground, there-by reducing localized floodingand allowing the impurities tosettle out, recharging thegroundwater. Researchers arestudying the possibility of raingardens to remove o t h e r pol-lutants besides the heavy met-als and phosphorus that theyare now known to remove.These specialized gardens alsocreate an appealing naturalarea that will attract birds

Why plant a rain garden?

Rain gardens are beneficial to our environ-ment in several ways. They:

• Reduce the amount of pollutants thatwash into lakes, streams ponds andwetlands;

• Help sustain adequate stream flowduring dry spells through infiltration andrecharge;

• Enhance the beauty of your yard and theneighborhood;

• Help protect communities from floodingand drainage problems;

• Reduce the need for costly municipalstormwater treatment structures.

Adapted from University of Wisconsin Extension, Rain

Gardens: A How-to Manual for Homeowners.

It is estimated thatresidential water use canincrease between 40 and

50 percent during summermonths because of out-

door water use, and a rainbarrel can save up to

1,300 gallons of waterduring this period.

Pipeline is published by the

National Environmental Services Center

at West Virginia University,

P.O. Box 6064, Morgantown, WV 26506-6064

ISSN 1060-0043

The contents of this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the

views and policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products

constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

P i p e l i n e is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture'sRural Development Rural Utilities Service, whose missionis to serve in a leading role in improving the quality of lifein rural America by administering its electric, telecommuni-cations, and water and waste programs in a service-orient-ed, forward-looking, and financially responsible manner.Founded in 1947 as the Farmer's Home Administration,Rural Development Rural Utilities Service has providedmore than $40 billion for water and wastewater projects.For more info rmation, visit their website atwww.usda.gov/rus/.

an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution

Printed on

recycled

paper

Deborah Pope, RUS Loan Specialist and Project OfficerU.S. Department of Agriculture's

Rural Development Rural Utilities Service

Office of Wastewater Management

National Enviromental Services CenterWest Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Dr. Gerald Iwan — Executive DirectorMark Kemp-Rye — Communications Manager / Editor

Marilyn Noah — Writer / EditorJennifer Hause — Technical AdvisorZane Satterfield — Technical Advisor

John Fekete — Senior Project CoordinatorCatlin Buckley — Graphic Designer

Permission to quote from or reproduce articles in thispublication is granted when due acknowledgement is given.Please send a copy of the publication in which information

was used to the Pipeline editor at the address above.


3PIPELINE – Winter 2010; Vol. 21, No 1. National Environmental Services Center (800) 624-8301 or (304) 293-4191

can be purchased ready-made from a garden centeror online, or they can behomemade from food gradeplastic barrels or trash bins.Flexible downspout elbowsmake hookup easy. Rain bar-rels come in a variety ofmaterials, from plastic towood to terra cotta, and arecommercially designed in avariety of shapes and sizes.They range in cost depend-ing on size, style and addedfeatures. Some communitiesare offering “make a rainbarrel” workshops to encour-age their use; others areoffering rain barrels for saleat much reduced rates.

Water from your roof maycontain bacteria and otherdisease-causing organismsfrom bird and other animalwaste. Rain barrel water isfine if used on non-edibleplants such as landscapeplants and flowers but shouldnot be used on vegetableplants close to harvest time.Always wash your harvestedvegetables thoroughly withpotable water before using.

The size of your rain barreldepends on the size of therooftop surface area thatdrains to it. A general rule ofthumb is that one inch ofrainfall on a 1,000 square footroof will yield approximately600 gallons. You can roughlycalculate your home’s needsby multiplying the squarefootage of your roof by 625and then dividing by 1,000.Multiple barrels can beplumbed in a series if neces-sary.

For convenience, most barrelshave a spigot near the bot-tom, allowing watering cansto be filled. Rain barrels areusually perched on blocks or asturdy rack for easier access tothis spigot. They can also beplumbed directly into existingirrigation systems.

A rain barrel should be emp-tied and rinsed out once a

and restrictions are beingplaced on watering lawns andlandscape plantings or wash-ing cars. Instead of using cost-ly treated water from amunicipal treatment plant tosoak your lawn, rain barrelsprovide a free irrigationsource. By providing short-term storage of this naturallychemical-free water, the use ofrain barrels makes landscapewatering possible even duringtimes of water restrictions.

Rain barrels collect and storerainwater from rooftops.Water from your roof is col-lected from the gutters andpiped to a container. Storedrainwater can be recycled forwatering lawns, gardens andtrees and to wash your car. Itis estimated that residentialwater use can increasebetween 40 and 50 percentduring summer monthsbecause of outdoor water use,and a rain barrel can save upto 1,300 gallons of water dur-ing this period.

Rain barrels are inexpensive,easy to install and easy tooperate and maintain. They

What are the threats to source water?

Many contaminants might be present insource water before it's treated, including:

• Fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides fromagricultural lands and residential areas;

• Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals fromurban runoff and energy production;

• Sediment from improperly managedconstruction sites, crop and forestlands,and eroding stream banks;

• Salt from irrigation practices and aciddrainage from abandoned mines;

• Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, petwastes, and faulty septic systems.

Keeping pollutants out of stormwater is lessexpensive than trying to clean up the waterin treatment plants.

Adapted from The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency .

Rain barrels plumbed in tandem. Photo courtesy of the University of Rhode

Island Cooperative Extension Water Quality Program.



month. It is also a good ideato keep gutters free of debris.If algae begins growing in thebarrel, a tablespoon of house-hold bleach will stop itsgrowth but will not hurtplants. The top of the barrelmust be tightly sealed orscreened to prevent mosqui-toes from breeding in thewater and to prevent access byany animals or children. Incold regions, empty the barrelbefore freezing weather.

These rain-catching systemsare a great way to slow downthe flow of stormwater fromyour property and provide afree water source for dry spellsin your garden.

Saving free rainwater for driertimes just makes good sense.Watershed groups and localgovernments encourage theinstallation of rain barrels orcisterns, but permitting codesvary across the country. Whilesome cities require rainwaterharvesting systems be incor-porated in all new construc-tion, others place restrictionson the practice. Be sure tocheck with your local buildingcodes or health departmentbefore installing a system.

Keep Runoff CleanContamination of drinkingwater sources can cause acommunity significantexpense and threaten publichealth. The well-known storiesabout environmental prob-lems tend to focus on big, rec-ognizable targets such asleaking toxic waste dumpsand messy oil spills, but so-called nonpoint source pollu-tion is the nation’s leadingsource of water quality degra-dation. Whether your tapwater comes from surface orgroundwater, all drinkingwater sources are vulnerable

regularly. (Pumping outevery three to five years isrecommended for a three-bedroom house with a1,000-gallon tank, smallertanks should be pumpedmore often.)

• Do not use septic systemadditives.

• Do not divert storm drainsor basement pumps intoseptic systems.

• Avoid or reduce the use ofyour garbage disposal.(Garbage disposals sendexcess solids to your septictank and can increase thefrequency your tank needsto be pumped.)

• Don’t flush trash. Excesssolids can clog drainfields.

• Don’t drive over the systemor the drainfield. This cancompact the soil and breakthe piping of the system.

• Check for signs of systemfailure, such as areas in theyard that remain moistduring dry times, or spots ofexcessive grass or plantgrowth. If you see signs offailure, schedule aninspection and repairsimmediately.

• If you sell your home,inform the new owner aboutyour septic system and sharemaintenance records.

Reduce your water consumptionHomeowners can significantlyreduce the volume of waste-water discharged to a homeseptic system or a sewagetreatment plant by conservingwater. If your home has a sep-tic system, by decreasing yourwater usage, you can helpprevent your system fromoverloading and contaminat-ing ground water and surface

to a variety of contaminantsfrom an assortment of activi-ties.

As the water moves acrossvarious landscapes, such asplowed agricultural fields,parking lots and residentialbackyards, it picks up soil par-ticles, fertilizers, pesticides,animal waste, road salt,motor oil and other pollu-tants. This type of pollution iscalled nonpoint source pollu-tion. Although individualhomes contribute only minoramounts of this type of pollu-tion, the combined effect of anentire neighborhood can beserious. Homeowners areencouraged to take appropri-ate steps to not only limitrunoff but to make sure therunoff stays clean.

Steps You Can TakeProtecting our drinking wateris everyone’s responsibility.You can help protect yourcommunity’s drinking watersource in several ways.

Maintain your septic systemSeptic systems can contributeto source water contaminationfor various reasons, includingimproper location of the sys-tem, poor design, faulty con-struction, incorrect operation,and poor or no maintenanceof the system. Malfunctioningor overflowing septic systemsrelease bacteria and nutrientsinto the water cycle. Nutrientscan cause algae blooms andexcessive plant growth inlakes. Increased bacteria levelsin groundwater, lakes andstreams can present a publicsafety issue.

By following the basic recom-mendations below, you canhelp ensure that your systemcontinues to function properly.

• Inspect your septic systemannually.

• Pump out your septic system



5

water. (Seventy-five percent ofdrainfield failures are due tohydraulic overloading.)

• Use dishwashers and clotheswashers only when fullyloaded.

• Take short showers insteadof baths and avoid lettingfaucets run unnecessarily.

• Replace old water fixtureswith new water-efficientshowerheads, faucets, andtoilets. Look for the newWaterSense rating given bythe EPA. This rating systemhelps consumers identifyhigh-performance, water-efficient products that canreduce water use in thehome and help preserve thenation's water resources.

• Repair and replace any

leaking fixturesimmediately. (Nearly 14percent of the water atypical homeowner pays foris never used—it leaks downthe drain.)

Use household chemicals carefully• Many common chemicals

around the home are toxic.Use non-toxic and water-based substitutes wheneverpossible.

• Buy chemicals only in theamount you expect to useand use them only as direct-ed. Store chemicals properlyto prevent leaks and accessby children.

• Take unwanted chemicals tohazardous waste collectioncenters; do not pour themdown the drain. Pouringchemicals down the drain

can corrode pipes and maydisrupt your septic system orsewage treatment plant.Never pour chemicals on theground. Soil cannot purifymost chemicals, and theyeventually will contaminaterunoff.

• Use low-phosphate or phos-phate-free detergents.

Landscape with nature• Select plants that have low

requirements for water, fer-tilizers, and pesticides.Native plants are excellentchoices. Your local extensionoffice or local nursery canmake some recommenda-tions.

• Minimize grassy areas thatrequire high maintenance.

Drawing by Catlin Buckley. Adapted from www.sustainablesouthcoast.org.

Cross Section of a Rain Garden



Use low maintenanceground covers or cover bareearth with mulch.

• Mulch all planting beds toreduce the need for watering.

• Preserve existing trees, andplant trees and shrubs tohelp prevent erosion.

• If you must irrigate, install aweather-based or sensorautomatic system. These sys-tems take into accountrecent rain events, relativehumidity and temperatureso they apply water onlywhen necessary. (Weather-based irrigation controllerscan save nearly 24 billiongallons per year across theU.S.—approximately equalto more than 7,000 hosesconstantly running for a fullyear.) Adjust your sprinklersystem so it doesn’t waterthe driveway or other pavedsurfaces.

• Have the soil in your lawnand gardens analyzed todetermine the proper typeand rate of fertilizer neededand use natural alternativesrather than chemical fertiliz-ers and pesticides if possible.

• If fertilizer falls on pavedsurfaces, sweep it off into theplanting areas to keep itfrom going down the storm

drain. Don’t apply pesticidesor fertilizers before an expect-ed rain due to the likelihoodof runoff.

• Don’t sweep or rake leaves orgrass clippings into the street.Add them to the compost pileinstead.

Prevent automobile pollution • Regular tune-ups and inspec-

tions can help keep automo-tive waste and by-productsfrom contaminating runoff.Clean up any spilled automo-bile fluids.

• Wash your car on the lawnwhere the greasy water can befiltered by the soil or take yourcar to a commercial carwashwhere the dirty water is treat-ed properly.

• Dispose of used motor oil andantifreeze to recycling centers.Never put used oil down stormdrains or in drainage ditches.(One quart of oil can contami-nate up to 2 million gallons ofdrinking water.)

Pick up after your petPet waste, when not disposed ofproperly, is one of many smallsources of pollution in localwaterways. Waste left to decom-pose on streets or in vegetatedareas near streets may bewashed into storm sewers thatflow into local waters. The nutri-ents it contains encourages

excess algae growth, and theorganisms it may carry makeswater unsafe for swimming ordrinking.

Community Action• Participate in clean-up activi-

ties in your neighborhood.

• Write or call your elected rep-resentatives to inform themabout your concerns andencourage legislation to pro-tect water resources.

• Get involved in local plan-ning and zoning decisionsand encourage your localofficials to develop erosionand sediment control ordi-nances.

• Promote environmental edu-cation. Help educate peoplein your community aboutways they can help protectwater quality.

• Get your community groupsinvolved.

Source water is untreated waterfrom streams, rivers, lakes orunderground aquifers that isused to provide public drinkingwater, as well as to supply pri-vate wells used for human con-sumption. Protecting sourcewater from contamination canreduce the cost of expensivetreatment downstream.

The water that surrounds us—lakes, rivers, streams andaquifers—makes up our drink-ing water sources. When rainfalls or snow melts, it picks up,carries and deposits pollutantsinto surrounding waters andeven underground sources ofdrinking water. What we do inthe watershed can directlyimpact the quality of waterthat arrives at the treatmentplant.

By reducing and slowing theflow and improving the qualityof the stormwater runoff thatyour property generates, youcan greatly diminish the nega-tive effects this water has onour watershed.

Street flooding results from overwhelmed stormdrains. Diverting run-off from your property into

a rain garden can reduce these consequences.



Pipelines are available in pdf format at:www.nesc.wvu.edu/pipeline.cfm.

NESC’s website has a section devoted towater conservation. Read more about sav-ing water at www.nesc.wvu.edu/subpages/conservation.cfmOther resources on the web include:“Rain Gardens in Connecticut – A Design Guide for Homeowners” from theUniversity of Connecticut CooperativeExtension System. Can be downloaded atwww.sustainability.uconn.edu/pdf/raingardenbroch.pdf

Rain barrel information from the Universityof Rhode Island is available atwww.uri.edu/ce/healthylandscapes/rainbsources.html

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Source Water Protection Practices Bulletin“Managing Septic Systems to Prevent Contamination of Drinking Water” can bedownloaded at www.nesc.wvu.edu/pdf/ww/septic/epa_septicwater_protection.pdf

“Managing Nonpoint Source Pollution fromHouseholds” is available atwww.epa.gov/owow/nps/facts/point10.htm

NonPoint Source Pollution Kids’ Page atwww.epa.gov/owow/nps/kids/

You can find all of EPA’s WaterSense ratedproducts at www.epa.gov/watersense/products/index.html.

“Your Water Your Decision” is an initiative bythe Source Water Collaborative (SWC) to edu-cate local decision makers about their optionsfor protecting drinking water sources. SWC isdedicated to protecting America’s drinkingwater at the source—in the lakes, rivers,streams and aquifers we tap for drinking pur-poses, by combining the strengths of a diverseset of member organizations. Membersinclude EPA’s Office of Groundwater andDrinking Water and the Office of Wetlands,Oceans and Watersheds, as well as theNational Environmental Services Center, and19 other organizations. Decision-makingguides, toolkits and other informational materials relevant to this initiative are available at the SWC website at www.protectdrinkingwater.org.

Resources

NESC’s On Tap magazine articles:

“Rainwater Harvesting: Moderate InvestmentCan Yield Big Results”

www.nesc.wvu.edu/pdf/dw/publications/ontap/magazine/OT_SU08.pdf

“The State of Rainwater Harvesting”

www.nesc.wvu.edu/pdf/dw/publications/ontap/magazine/OTFA08_features/StateRainwaterHarvestingUS.pdf

“XeriscapingTM Conserves Water”

www.nesc.wvu.edu/pdf/dw/publications/ontap/magazine/OT_SP08.pdf

Pipeline newsletters

“Watershed Management,” (Fall 2006) athttp://www.nesc.wvu.edu/pdf/WW/publications/pipline/PL_FA06.pdf“Septic Systems and Source Water

Protection,” (Summer 2008) athttp://www.nesc.wvu.edu/pdf/WW/publications/pipline/PL_SU08.pdfPipeline newsletters address drinking waterand wastewater issues for homeowners andsmall community officials. Additional

ReprintInfo

Readers are encouraged toreprint Pipeline articles in localnewspapers or include them in

flyers, newsletters, or educational presentations. Please include the name

and phone number of the NationalEnvironmental Service Center (NESC) onthe reprinted information and send us a

copy for our files. If you have any questionsabout reprinting articles or about any of the topics discussed in this newsletter, please

contact the NESC at (800) 624-8301.

Quality Development and Stormwater RunoffWhat You Can Do to Reduce Flooding, Erosion and PollutionWatershed Committee of the Ozarks

This fact sheet discusses and illustrates methods to properlymanage stormwater runoff by highlighting several residen-tial, commercial, and industrial best management practicesto help reduce flooding, erosion, and pollution. Commonrunoff pollutants are identified such as heavy metals, pesticides, fertilizers, bacteria and soil sediments.

Item # GNFSPE07 . . . . . . $0.35

Alternative Household Cleaning SolutionsNational Environmental Services Center

This fact sheet provides less-toxic alternatives for cleaning andhome improvement jobs around the house.

Item #GNFSPE109 . . . . . . $0.35

PollutedU.S. Environmental Protection Agency

This brochure folds out to graphically show various sources of runoff (such as: forestry, agriculture, urban stormwater, residential, and construction). Activities the community can initiate are listed that will help reduce the effects of runoff andpollution entering nearby waterways. A list of regional EPANonpoint Source Coordinators is included.

Item # GNBRPE51 . . . . . . Free

Water Conservation In Your HomeAmerican Ground Water Trust

This booklet explains to homeowners the many benefits ofwater conservation. Practical tips are offered on how to lowerwater usage all around the house: in the kitchen, bathroom,laundry and yard.

Item # DWBLPE149 . . . . . .$1.90

How to Order NESC ProductsTo place an order, call us toll free at (800) 624-8301 or (304) 293-4191 or send email to [email protected] prepared to give the item number and title of the productyou wish to order. Shipping charges will apply.

R E L ATED N E S C P R O D U C T S

Documents

Residential Runoff—Slow It Down, Keep It Clean BT Runoff—Slow It Down, Keep It Clean To reduce runoff from the solid surfaces around your home, replace them if possible with porous