Have you ever thought about your local storm sewer system? This may be a weird question to most but it occurred to me while I was watching a cartoon with my 6 year-old son that he probably felt that our local storm sewers were a place where weird, extra large, creatures lived. And before a couple years ago, I too, did not think too much about our storm sewer system. In fact, I had no idea that our storm sewer system is called an MS4 and is a part of a permit program to help protect our local waters. 

MS4 is short for, “Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System.” MS4 refers to a collection of structures designed to gather stormwater and discharge it, without treatment, into local streams and rivers. In Warren County, many of our rural developments have stormwater management structures but it is only the communities that are classified by the United States Census Bureau as “urbanized areas,” that are a part of the MS4 permit program. In total, Warren County has six MS4s.

In the State of Ohio, there are over 300 MS4s which include college campuses and hospitals. Each MS4 gets authorization from a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to discharge stormwater into these systems. This permit is also commonly called a stormwater or MS4 permit. The word “National” refers to the connection with the Federal Clean Water Act and the word “discharge” refers to the fact that separate storm sewer systems eventually release untreated stormwater into local creeks, rivers and lakes. Each MS4 permit holder is charged with fulfilling the permit requirements but it is managed statewide by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA). The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has an oversight role because they are charged with implementing the Clean Water Act.

The  MS4 permit requires communities to have six focus areas. The six focus areas are: Public Education and Outreach; Construction Site Erosion Control, Public Participation and Involvement; Post Construction Stormwater Management; Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination; Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping.  Each of these six focus areas have permit requirements including education and in some cases management of regulated activities. This permit work is crucial in helping keep our stormwater clean.
Some communities in Ohio do not have separate storm sewer systems and thus, are not covered under the MS4 permit program. These communities have combined storm and sanitary sewers, meaning stormwater and grey water from homes/businesses flow through the same pipe. Combined sewage systems are under different requirements federally because with increased rainfall overwhelming these systems, raw sewage ends up in our local streams and rivers, which is how these systems were designed many years ago. Many combined sewer systems are installing green infrastructure to help handle high rainfall episodes to keep sewage from overflowing into local waters. For an example of how Northeast Ohio is handling their combined sewer system, check out, https://www.neorsd.org/stormwater-2/.

In my realization of what storm sewer systems actually do, and that they do not serve as a housing system for unusually large, mutant, half human animals, I see now how important it is to protect our storm sewers and thus keep our MS4 system clean. All plants and animals must have water to survive. If there was not water there would be no life on earth. I challenge you to take part in the Imagine a Day Without Water which happens in October. You can check out ways to take part in this day at: http://imagineadaywithoutwater.org/.
For more information about stormwater, check out the Penn State Extension Stormwater Basics Series - https://extension.psu.edu/water/stormwater-management or check out the Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District at https://www.warrenswcd.com/.

-Cindy Meyer, Conservation Programs Specialist 

Simple, small changes in our everyday lives can make large impacts on the environment. With the approach of cold winter weather, some of these changes can also make a big impact on your economic savings! Here are a few conservation and energy saving tips for this winter:

Properly plug drafty leaks Conserve energy and money by weather-stripping and caulking air leaks in windows and around doors. Reducing drafts in a home greatly reduces energy use and cost which is good for your wallet and the environment! 

Choose a safe De-Icer  Shoveling your snow into areas that are level and able to absorb the water once the snow has melted decreases ice build up, and allows potential pollutants from roadways and driveways to be filtered out by plants before reaching our streams. If salting is necessary for safety, remember that chemical de-icing salts that wash off of impermeable surfaces run into our local streams where is it harmful to the fish and other aquatic life. Sweep up excess salt and dispose of properly. An alternative to conventional de-icing salt is to purchase de-icer made from calcium magnesium acetate (CMA), potassium chloride (KCl), or calcium chloride (CaCl2). These are non-toxic de-icing products that do not have the same negative impact on the environment.

Recycle Your Old Christmas Lights  As we decorate our homes, some of us may have found we have a few strands of lights that no longer twinkle. Instead of trashing them, recycle them. Find a drop off location here.

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​Zero Waste Gifts  Instead of giving items that also come with lots of packaging for all of your gifts, consider giving the gift of amazing experiences! These gifts create memories that last a lifetime in our hearts, and not a lifetime in the landfill.

Reusable Bags For your holiday gifts that do require wrapping, use reusable bags and cloth  packaging. This includes buying those yummy holiday foods. When you hit the grocery, remember to bring along your reusable bags! During our stream cleanups we always find plastic bags caught up in the stream or wrapped around trees. By using reusable bags, you are reducing the number of plastic bags in our landfills and in our environment.​​

Buy Local, Seasonal Produce Season-appropriate produce requires less energy for transport, is less expensive and often tastes better than out of season produce which must be shipped long distances. According to the Ohio Farm Bureau, late autumn produce includes apples, beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cilantro, corn, grapes (table), kale, onions, parsnips, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, squash, tomatoes, turnips, and watermelons. There is a little something for everyone!

​So stay savvy and sustainable this winter season!

As the arboreal leaves turn vibrant reds and oranges, some of us may be noticing a browning in our backyard gardens as tomato and pepper plants are coming to the end of their season. Depending on the weather, October can be an ideal time in Ohio to keep giving your garden a little bit more love and attention. And set your gaze on next season's success!

Fall garden basics:

• Clean up and remove dying foliage.
• Remove green tomatoes from the plants and allow to ripen (Can place in brown paper bag)
• Harvest fall crops like beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kale, and leeks.
• Plant spring-blooming bulbs.
• Plant cool-season annuals. (Cover on nights when a frost is expected)
• Plant trees and shrubs.
• Collect and dry seed
• Get your soil tested and add amendments as needed (Warren County SWCD sells basic and organic soil test kits)
• .Amend your soil with a dressing of compost
• Turn your compost pile.
• Use your garden debris and leaves to start a new compost pile.

These steps will help you prepare your garden for the coming winter dormancy.  Other steps you can take include pruning back appropriate perennials, mulching your leaves to use as free fertilizer, and planting a cover crop to suppress weeds, manage soil erosion, help build and improve soil fertility and quality, control diseases and pests, and promote biodiversity.
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​Gardening is a wonderful way to connect with the outdoors and provide local sustenance, And by following conservation gardening techniques, you can maximize your garden yield while working in harmony with the local environment!

Often people think that disposing of waste liquids, products, etc. down a drain is ideal because eventually it all gets cleaned out at a wastewater treatment plant. After all, all drains go to the same place right? The answer to that question however is NO.
 
It is important to understand the difference between sanitary sewers and storm sewers so we can protect our water resources.  The sanitary sewer is a system of subsurface pipes that carries sewage from bathrooms, sinks, kitchens, and other plumbing components to a wastewater treatment plant where it is filtered and treated before being discharged. 
 
The storm sewer however is a system designed to carry rainfall runoff and other drainage. It is not designed to carry sewage or hazardous wastes that can enter the environment as pollution. The runoff is carried in subsurface pipes and/or open ditches and discharges untreated into local streams, rivers and other surface water bodies. Storm drain inlets are typically found in curbs and low-lying outdoor areas. Some older buildings have basement floor drains that connect to the storm sewer system. (MSU WATER)
 
Disposal of chemicals or hazardous substances to the storm sewer system damages the environment. Motor oil, cleaners, paints and other common household items that get into storm drains can poison fish, birds, and other wildlife, and can find their way into drinking water supplies. In addition, grass clippings, leaves, litter, and organic matter can clog storm drains, cause flooding, and increase nutrient pollution in waterways.  You may have seen storm drain tags placed by Warren County SWCD reminding people "Only Rain Down the Drain" and other similar messaging to help protect our environment and water resources.

There are a wide range of things people can do at home to help safeguard our water sources; from installation of rain gardens and rain barrels to slow down stormwater runoff to washing your car NOT in the impervious driveway.  But simply put, only rain water should enter our storm drains!

To find out more about what you can do to help prevent water pollution, visit our Partners at Save Local Waters!

​‘Tis the season for campfires! Campfires are very relaxing and there is nothing better than roasting marshmallows over a campfire, but did you know that Ohio EPA has regulations in regards to campfires and potentially local ordinances exist in regards to burning?
 



​As per Ohio EPA’s guidelines, bonfires, campfires and outdoor fireplace equipment are permissible if used for cooking, warmth, recreation, religious or ceremonial or similar purposes with the following guidelines as long as the:

• campfire is fueled with clean seasoned firewood, natural gas or other clean burning fuel.
• the campfire is not being used for  waste disposal.
• the total fuel area is no more than three feet in diameter and no higher than  two feet.

 
For more guidelines from the Environmental Protection Agency, visit http://epa.ohio.gov/portals/47/facts/openburn.pdf

Under Ohio Law, it is illegal to burn garbage, items made of rubber, grease, asphalt and petroleum, as well as dead animals. Also, burning household waste produces many toxic chemicals and is one of the largest known sources of dioxin in the nation.
 
So what can you do instead? Citizens are urged to reduce the overall amount of waste that is being generated in their household and learn how to possibly reuse their items in another way, besides burning. In terms of recycling, contacting your local waste disposal provider on their curb-side pickup policies and possible drop-off locations would aid you and others in how to dispose of bulky and the potential hazardous items.
 
Another option to reducing waste is composting! It is a great way to reduce your household waste such as yard trimmings and food scraps. The best part about compost is that you are able to create a natural fertilizer! For more information on composting, be sure to visit the following links:

• Warren Soil and Water Conservation District’s Composting page: https://www.warrenswcd.com/composting.html
• The Ohio State University’s Extension Factsheet on compost: https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/anr-34.