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July 5, 2005 OUR COUNTY D. GARY DAVIS BRADLEY COUNTY MAYOR Over the past several months, the Bradley County Storm Water Department has been busy implementing various requirements as mandated by the federal government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as authorized in the Clean Water Act. Control of storm water runoff is a major focal point of this new mandate. So, just what is storm water runoff? Storm water runoff occurs when precipitation from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and streets prevent storm water from naturally soaking into the ground. Why is storm water runoff a problem? Storm water can pick up debris, chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants and flow into a storm sewer system or directly to a lake, stream, river, wetland, or coastal water. Anything that enters a storm sewer system is discharged untreated into the water bodies we use for swimming, fishing, and providing drinking water. What are the effects of pollution? Polluted storm water runoff can have many adverse effects on plants, fish, animals, and people. Some of these effects are: Sediment can cloud the water and make it difficult or impossible for aquatic plants to grow. Sediment also can destroy aquatic habitats. Excess nutrients can cause algae blooms. When algae die, they sink to the bottom and decompose in a process that removes oxygen from the water. Fish and other aquatic organisms can’t exist in water with low dissolved oxygen levels. Bacteria and other pathogens can wash into swimming areas and create health hazards, often making beach closures necessary. Debris – plastic bags, six-pack rings, bottles, and cigarette butts – washed into water bodies can choke, suffocate, or disable aquatic life like ducks, fish, turtles, and birds. Polluted storm water often affects drinking water sources. This, in turn, can affect human health and increase drinking water treatment costs. Bradley County’s Storm Water Management Policy can be accessed on our website at: http://www.bradleyco.net/pages/stormwater/default.html. Fact sheets for erosion control best management practices are also available with other related information. For additional information about the Bradley County Storm Water Department, you may contact County Engineer Sandra Knight at 728-7107 or Storm Water Technician Heath Owens at 728-7102.