Polluted stormwater runoff is the #1 cause of water pollution in the United States.  Our waterways provide drinking water, habitat for fish & wildlife, and water recreation.  Storm drains carry untreated water directly into our creeks & streams. 

You can make a difference!  Making changes in your daily routine can significantly reduce pollutants we contribute to stormwater runoff.  Here are a few suggestions to help you to positively impact North Carolina’s water quality:

  • Septic systems should be checked annually and pumped every 3-5 years. 
  • Pick up after your pets! Cat litter and dog poop is harmful and pollutes stormwater with fecal coliform, giardia and salmonella bacteria.  
  • Properly dispose of motor oil.  It takes only one quart of motor oil to create a 2-acre oil slick, and only one gallon of motor oil can contaminate one MILLION gallons of water!
  • Wash your vehicle on gravel or on grass, avoiding pavement where soapy water flows directly into storm drains.
  • Fertilizer, herbicides & pesticides should be applied accordingly. Fertilizer runoff carried in stormwater builds excessive algae in the environment increasing the cost of water treatment, hindering boating areas and threatening wildlife. You can call the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 919-733-2655 and they will test your soil for FREE to determine how much fertilizer to apply.

40% of rivers & streams in the United States are too polluted for fishing or swimming. The Cape Fear River is the only river in North Carolina that flows directly into the ocean. It has over 6,000 miles of streams & rivers, covering over 9,000 suare miles and supports 95 different species of fish, according to the North Carolina Clean Water Education Partnership. The largest Lake — B. Everett Jordan Reservoir, “Jordan Lake“, in Durham, Chatham & Wake Counties, is in the Cape Fear River Basin — North Carolina’s largest river basin.

Do your part by acting responsibly and educate others to help protect our waterways!  Small changes to your lifestyle can hugely impact the environment.  For information on Stormwater in Chapel Hill, click here: the Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management.