A variety of human activities that take place throughout Connecticut have the potential to pollute Connecticut's ground and surface water resources - that pollution is called nonpoint source, which means it comes from many different points of origin. These human activities, such as fertilizing the lawn or washing the car, increase runoff and often contribute pollutants to the runoff that may end up in surface waters or can infiltrate into groundwater. If pollutants from these nonpoint sources are in high enough concentrations, the surface or groundwater may become impaired. Pollutant levels, or loadings, from many nonpoint sources are closely linked to rainfall, thunderstorms, snowmelt or other weather conditions which cause stormwater runoff. In Connecticut, stormwater runoff from urban areas and construction activities are two of the most significant categories of nonpoint source pollution (Source: CTDEP website).
Best Management Practices (BMPs) are effective, practical means of minimizing pollution that can be used by homeowners and municipalities to reduce impacts to lakes, wetlands, rivers, and streams. According to the DEP Bureau of Water Management, BMPs can be implemented on either a volunteer basis, such as the proper application of lawn fertilizers by a homeowner, or on a regulatory basis, such as erosion control required for construction sites by town permits in accordance with state laws. The following are BMPs that residents of the Pomperaug watershed should consider to help protect the rivers, the aquifer, and their drinking water. For more information on Best Management Practices and statewide efforts to control nonpoint sources of pollution, visit the CTDEP website at:
http://dep.state.ct.us/wtr/nps/npsplsum.htm
Naturalistic Landscaping - Use native vegetation and groundcovers for landscaping your property, instead of non-native ornamental trees, shrubs, and turf grass. These natives are well adapted to the local environment, are often attractive flowering plants, and will minimize the costs and environmental impact of maintaining your property. Many of the invasive, non-native plants that are spreading through our urban woodlands and forests were once sold as ornamentals (e.g. Purple Loosestrife, Autumn Olive and Oriental Bittersweet). A list of native plants for landscaping your yard is available from the Connecticut College Arboretum (Arboretum Bulletin No. 30, Native Shrubs for Landscaping) at:
http://arboretum.conncoll.edu/pubs.html
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Turf Lawns - Reducing or minimizing the amount of turf lawn on your property will greatly reduce the potential for stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution reaching local water supplies. Maintaining turf lawns is labor and energy intensive, and replaces native trees and shrubs with low quality habitat for wildlife. For more information on how to reduce the size of your lawn, visit the following websites:
Smaller American Lawns Today (SALT)
The Organic Land Care Program of Connecticut and Massachusetts
Vegetated Buffer Zones - Vegetated buffers are areas of either natural or established vegetation that are maintained to protect the water quality of neighboring areas. Buffer zones reduce the velocity of storm water runoff, provide an area for the runoff to permeate the soil, contribute to ground water recharge, and act as filters to catch sediment. The reduction in velocity also helps to prevent soil erosion. Riparian buffer zones remove nonpoint source pollution from adjacent land-use practices, such as agriculture and construction, and also provide essential wildlife corridors for birds and other wildlife. Maintaining a vegetated buffer around rivers, stream courses and wetlands on your property is one simple way you can help protect the water quality in the Pomperaug River and its tributaries. For more information on buffers, visit the EPA website at: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/menuofbmps/site_40.htm
Septic Systems - According to the Connecticut Department of Health, there are approximately 300,000 on-site septic systems in the State of Connecticut, with an estimated 15,000 of those systems needing repair each year. As a result you should have your septic system inspected every few years by a licensed septic contractor to insure proper functioning. Failing septic systems are a significant source of nutrients and bacteria into lakes, rivers and streams. For more information, visit:
http://www.inspect-ny.com/septbook.htm
More Helpful Links
Preventing non-point source pollution:
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/abc.html
15 things you can do to make a difference in your watershed:
http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/earthday/earthday.html
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