Green Talk Tip
Storm Water Runoff

Storm water run-off education is an issue Clean Valley Council is tackling for the City of Roanoke, County of Roanoke and the Town of Vinton. Municipalities have a mandate to teach about run-off and where it goes. When it rains in a populated area it rains on streets, parking lots, construction sites and roof tops. It has a direct path to storm drains. As a community grows we build and pave more and that means more water to the storm drains.  That would not be so bad if we had fewer paved areas. Rain that goes into the ground is cleaned by the plants and the earth.  

Run-off that travels to a storm drain takes litter, oil residue, silt and dumped products directly to the nearest stream or river. The pollutants and silt do not make for a clear, clean stream or river. We all know that there is always someone (another community) down stream and eventually an ocean and our favorite beaches.

The bottom line is to keep pavement minimal or porous. Collect your rain water and use for irrigation. Dump no waste into a storm drain.  Pick up after your pets. Please don’t litter. Recycle all you can. Use fertilizer sparingly. Conserve you water. (Turn off water while you brush your teeth and save 2 gallons of water.) Check your home for small water leaks and save $$$’s on your water bill by fixing them.