Stormwater management program: keeping Georgia's streams, rivers and lakes healthy and clean

What is Stormwater Runoff? Stormwater is surface water that comes from rain or snowfall. Stormwater runoff is the water that flows off streets, rooftops and lawns. Hard surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and streets prevent stormwater from naturally soaking into the ground, so it is often collected in stormdrains and drainage ditches, where it flows into our natural waters without being treated.
When it rains, it pollutes! Many people don't know that the quality of our natural water is threatened each time it rains. Stormwater runoff carries things like lawn fertilizers, pet waste, litter, chemicals, oil and grease, and other pollutants into our waterways. This can be harmful to both people and aquatic life. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 80% of water pollution is caused by stormwater runoff.
Why Should You Care about Clean Water? Can you imagine not being able to swim or fish in your favorite stream, river or lake? Each time it rains, stormwater runoff from our roofs, streets, parking lots and lawns carries pollution as it flows across these surfaces. Unlike wastewater, the water that flows through our storm-drains does not get treated before it enters our waterways. If polluted stormwater enters into our water sources, the health of our ecosystem may be damaged and this can make it dangerous to fish or swim in your local lake or stream. Stormwater pollution also makes monitoring and treating our drinking water more difficult and costly.
You can learn more at: www.dot.ga.gov

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600 West Peachtree Street, N.W. Atlanta, GA 30308
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Office of Communications

Keeping Georgia's streams, rivers and lakes healthy and clean
www.dot.ga.gov

Georgia DOT Stormwater Management Program
Keeping Georgia's streams, rivers and lakes healthy and clean

Georgia DOT is committed to protecting the environment and preventing water pollution. Our employees and contractors are trained to prevent and resolve stormwater pollution.
During Construction: Controlling Site Stormwater Runoff
Georgia DOT takes special precautions to prevent our construction projects from causing pollution of water sources near construction sites.
We also follow sitespecific construction plans and do inspections on a regular basis to prevent soil erosion near waterways during and after these projects.
Post-Construction Stormwater Management
Some examples of environmentally-friendly things we do include:
Use recycled materials.
Install road drainage systems that allow stormwater to absorb into the soil.
Landscape areas along roadways to help filter stormwater runoff.

There are many things the public can do to partner with us to prevent water pollution in Georgia:

Let Us Know if You See Stormwater Pollution
Stormwater pollution occurs whenever any chemical or unnatural product enters the stormwater system. These products and chemicals are common examples that threaten our stormwaters:
Detergents and washwater Oil and paint Sewage from sewer
pipes
Anyone can report pollutants (called "illicit discharges") on Georgia DOT's Stormwater Pollution Prevention website (www.dot.ga.gov) and we will work to resolve the problem.

Learn More about Stormwater Pollution Prevention
Georgia DOT hosts many Public Information Open Houses all over the state where the public is invited to learn about our projects and provide comments. You can learn more about stormwater pollution prevention by talking with any Georgia DOT employee at an Open House.
Businesses that join Georgia DOT's Sponsor-A-Highway Program will learn about stormwater pollution and help us identify locations where it may occur.
Get more information on Georgia DOT's website: www.dot.ga.gov.
Learn more about what you can do at EPA http://water.epa.gov/action/

Pollution Prevention at Home
Keep lids on garbage and recycling containers closed at all times. Check your vehicles for oil and other fluid leaks. Wash vehicles in designated areas to prevent dirty water and detergents
from pouring into the storm drain. Keep yard clippings out of streams and storm drains.

Stormwater pollution prevention is important to us. Please contact our office at (404) 631-1630 or stormwater@dot.ga.gov if you have any questions or
comments regarding this program.You can also report any stormwater pollution problems in your area on our website: www.dot.ga.gov