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ON THE GROUND, IN THE SOUND
Stormwater runoff is one of the most serious water quality problems facing Long Island Sound. With each rainfall, water cascades off of houses roofed in petroleum products and washes over chemical-slicked asphalt roadways and concrete sidewalks, ultimately flowing into storm drains or waterways that lead to Long Island Sound. Water running off of hard surfaces accumulates greases, salts, fertilizers and pesticides that can kill fish and damage shellfish beds and aquatic plants. |
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| Stormwater Maps of Connecticut - Click to Enlarge |
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Our heavily paved modern cities disrupt the natural evaporation and soil absorption of rainfall. The greatest hazard, however, comes from how we manage the intersection of sewage systems and stormwater.
In older cities, stormwater and sewer systems are often combined; the pipes that carry sewage to treatment plants are the same pipes that receive storm drain outflow. In heavy rains, the system gets overwhelmed, which can lead to untreated sewage flowing directly into the Sound.
Besides being completely disgusting, raw sewage contaminates the marine environment. Every year, sewage outflows force officials to close beaches and shellfish beds in order to protect human health, leading to costly repercussions for the tourist and marine trades industries. Sewage and lawn fertilizer also deliver high levels of nutrients to the Sound. These fuel the growth of massive algae blooms which consume oxygen as they decompose, suffocating organisms that cannot move and stressing other marine life.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
With appropriate management, polluted runoff and outdated sewage infrastructure don't have to be so destructive to our environment or our wildlife. State, regional, and local solutions can include:
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Stormwater assistance funds to help municipalities start stormwater authorities and install filters in catch basins–clean up the water before it gets to the Sound.
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Working with municipalities to find and address illicit discharges.
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Implementing green infrastructure techniques like vegetated swales, green roofs, and permeable pavement in new construction and redevelopment can decrease the amount of rainwater and slow its entry into the stormwater system.
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Citizen education to discourage dumping and incentives for stormwater control at the household level–reducing or discontinuing lawn fertilizer, using rain barrels to collect stormwater and keep it out of the stormwater/sewer system, or planting a rain garden to help absorb excess rainwater.
Right now weather patterns dictate whether our beach season will be interrupted by closures and contamination or our marine industry will face economic challenges due to missed shellfish harvests. We have attainable solutions to our pollution problems–solutions that greatly reduce the risk to the Sound, marine life, beachgoers and boaters.
It's time to change the equation:
RAIN → CONTAMINATION = CLOSED BEACHES
As climate change intensifies storms, more and more rain will overwhelm sewage treatment plants. There are innovative solutions that create jobs in construction, facility operations, and science, but we must be proactive to guarantee that Long Island Sound's wildlife, water quality, and coastal spaces are protected for generations to come.
 This webpage made possible in part by a grant from the Fairfield County Community Foundation.
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