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NATIONAL POLLUTION DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM

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The Problem

Lee County is one of the fastest growing areas in the country.  With that growth comes an added burden on our water supply and recreational waterways.  Lee County citizens must do their part to ensure that our area's growth doesn't spell doom for our precious, yet fragile environment.  

A major contributor to contamination of our waterways is polluted stormwater.  Stormwater is rain that has fallen and then flows across the ground and pavement.  This stormwater flows into ditches and storm sewers.  This water then flows directly into streams, rivers, bays and eventually the Gulf of Mexico.  As the stormwater flows across pavement, lawns and fields, it picks up pollution (fertilizers, solvents, pesticides, auto fluids) and carries it directly into our waterways.  Once there, it can have devastating effects....

When polluted stormwater reaches our waterways, it has many long-lasting, negative effects on aquatic plant and animal life.  This pollution also impacts other wildlife that uses the water or eats the contaminated seafood.  This includes humans.

Some of the potential effects are:

  • Sediment and other debris clog fish gills, damage fish habitat and block light needed for aquatic plants to survive. 

  • Stormwater picks up debris and plastic, that can harm marine life. 

  • Shellfish become contaminated and inedible. 

 If we don't stop the pollution, one of our most valuable resources - our recreational waterways - will be lost forever. Please remember, ditches and storm drains are not connected to the sewer system. They flow directly into streams, lakes, rivers, estuaries, bays and the Gulf of Mexico.  This means that stormwater is not cleaned or decontaminated before it flows into our waterways. Whatever you put in ditches, street drains and ever your lawn, goes immediately into our recreational waters whenever there is a significant rain.  We must al take responsibility for keeping pollutants our of Lee County's waters. 

 

Be The Solution...

Don't Pollute:

There are many seemingly harmless household activities that actually wreak havoc with our water system.  You can help by implementing "Best Management Practices" (BMP's) around your home.  BMP's are a general term applicable to any means, practice or technique aim to significantly  reduce or eliminate storm water pollution. 

Some of the common practices that can cause severe problems to our waterway include, but are not limited to:

  • Overuse of fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides is a major cause of stormwater pollution. Remember that what you put on your lawn eventually winds us in area rivers, bays and beaches. 
  • Improper disposal of automotive fluids such as motor oil, antifreeze, transmission and brake fluid.  Don't let them drain onto your driveway or lawn,  make sure they are contained and disposed of properly. 
  • Dumping of collected grass clippings, leaves and other yard waste into ditches, canals or other storm drains.  Your garbage hauler will collect those on the proper collection day. 
  • Draining swimming pools into ditches, canals or directly onto lawns. 
  • Draining household wastewater from washing machines, dishwashers or water softening devices into ditches or canals.

If you are a business owner and would like information on how to dispose properly of your business generated hazardous waste, please link to the  Lee County Pollution Prevention (P2) Program .

 

Recycle:

You are the most important part of the Lee County recycling program.   Consider that the average household generates about 30 pounds of recyclable material every month.  So two typical neighborhoods with about 30 houses each produce a ton of material every month that should be recycled.  Multiply that one ton by every two neighborhoods in Lee County, and it's easy to see how quickly the savings accumulate.  You, and your neighbors, are the cornerstones of our recycling program's success.

Your participation that starts here, in Lee County, makes a positive, impact because more and more people, are making the decision to recycle.  By recycling you are eliminating waste that could entering into our surface water.  The more items a households recycle, the less waste we create in our storm sewers.

For more information on recycling please link to Lee County's Department of Solid Waste .

Herbicides-Pesticides:

These materials are used to control unwanted or nuisance insects and plants.  Excessive use of these materials results in their being washed into stormwater runoffs.  They are carried into our lakes, streams and estuaries where they cause undesirable results.  When using these materials the best practice is to use the least toxic chemical that will do the job.  And always follow the label instructions.  To find more about the proper use of  herbicides and pesticides , and other information about maintaining your yard, please click here.

Motor Oil:

Proper disposal of our motor oil is also very helpful in keeping unwanted discharges out of our storm sewers.  For a list of collection points were used motor oil can be dropped off please click here.  

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