We want to make sure that young adults, specifically students, know what stormwater is and its overall environmental impact. When rain or snow flows through urban streets collecting in unlevel areas or forming run-off than drains into the sewer system, that’s stormwater. You see it on every rainy day in Eugene. When water travels or creates a runoff, it often collects oil, trash and other assorted
pollution with it along its path. All of these components contaminate the water and remain with the water through the draining process. Stormwater consequences go unnoticed, which creates an environmental concern for all of us. When stormwater enters the sewage system, it drains directly into rivers, lakes and other freshwater outlets, bringing all of the embedded pollution along. When stormwater is not drained, it often pools and can form a body of stagnant water, which creates an ideal environment for algae and bacteria to flourish. A serious public health and environmental problem, stormwater is preventable by learning and applying a few simple tips. For example, refraining from dumping anything into storm drains, washing vehicles over grass or gravel, cleaning up waste, maintaining vehicles, and storing other mechanics, such as bicycles or lawn mowers, in a shed are all efforts people can make to help prevent the development of stormwater. We get a lot of rain in Eugene, Ore., which means we’re at high risk for stormwater pollution . The UO campus and its dense surrounding population are definite contributors to the stormwater population in our community; community members can make a large impact if they are conscious of the issue and make changes to help keep our water clean.
