From the Charleston Post and Courier:
A generation after tougher industrial pollution laws cleaned up the nearly fetid water of Charleston Harbor, stormwater runoff has begun to threaten it.
South Carolina was one of the very first states to implement Stormwater Pollution regulations nearly 20 years ago. Unfortunately, the only solution I see to the problems they are running into is to retrofit most of the waterfront property in the city.
While they mention that detention basins are the most effective way to treat for many kinds of stormwater pollution, they also note correctly that a resulting increase in bacteria levels can result from standing water. The way to fix this is to make sure that the basins are designed to stay dry and are well maintained.
Turning detention areas into wildlife refuges is nice, but in my opinion it is trying to do too much. Keep them separate and the results will improve.
-Stormwater Guru
Pollution News South Carolina stormwater studies
I often come across news and reports about the progress of stormwater programs across the country like this one in McDonough, Ga. I have, however, noticed a severe lack of data for enforcement of stormwater regulations.
Frankly, I’m growing a little bored of yet another study about how using GIS to create storm sewer maps is beneficial. Wasn’t Google Earth invented for this kind of application? Why do people keep re-inventing the wheel?
Instead, how about an enforcement study that has some data people in the field can actually use such as:
- The MS4’s cost per violation
- Average violation resolution time
- effective NOV, NOI (Notice of Inspection), and other forms
- revenue generated from fees and penalties per 1,000 people
I realize that education and monitoring are very important to this program. However, you don’t know if you are making any measurable progress without some measure of enforcement. Asking people not to pollute the storm sewers will deter the ignorant that don’t know any better but good luck getting it to deter malicious polluters.
-Stormwater Guru
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The Center For Watershed Protection has released their Annual Report for 2006.
The CWP is essentially a study group that is working to improve water conditions. Their work is focused mainly on the eastern seaboard and specifically in Maryland and Virginia.
The guidance they provide is mostly toward what I call ’soft’ implementation. This basically means that they are focused more on the education and outreach areas than say feature design.
-Stormwater Guru
CWP Maryland non profits stormwater studies Virginia
