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Water QualityWater quality is very important to our quality of life. Over the past several decades, New Hanover County has experienced a decline in water quality related to human activities. One of the major threats to our local water quality is fecal coliform bacteria, also known as pet waste. Picking up pet waste is one way to ensure our waterways stay clean for future generations of humans and wildlife. You probably now that the catch basins and storm drains that run along our street and road curbs collect rain water. When rain water collects and runs over the ground and into the storm drains and culverts, it becomes stormwater. As stormwater flows across the streets and landscape, it collects oil, grease, debris and other pollutants. Stormwater then flows directly into the nearest stream, creek, lake and in our case the sound and ocean. Stormwater does NOT go to a treatment plant to be cleaned! This is a common misconception and many residents pour oil, paint, cigarette butts, yard waste, medicine and other chemical pollutants into the storm drains because they think it gets cleaned before finding its way to the Cape Fear River or the Intracoastal Waterway. But that is not the case. You can help protect our waterways through spreading the word, installing rain barrels, or by becoming involved in our volunteer opportunities or those of our many partner organizations. If you are interested in a presentation about stormwater or actively helping us spread the word about water quality, district staff are happy to provide a Stormwater 101 presentation to your community or local organization and lead volunteer groups in storm drain marking. Contact us (see link to the left) for more information.
Please clink on the links below to learn how you can play a major role in protecting your local water quality. City of Wilmington’s Citizen’s Guide to Protecting Wilmington’s Waterways Click here for more information on Water Quality Monitoring in New Hanover County |
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