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Stormwater, conservation, nonpoint source pollution, impervious surfaces — these aren’t sexy terms, and most of us find them irrelevant to our dayto-day-lives. Yet each can seriously impact a resource we need and love: water. Though it’s easy to assume that water supports itself naturally through the processes of precipitation, transpiration, evaporation and the natural filtration provided by our ecosystems, that’s not the case with people in the picture.
UN-Water reports that internationally, 22 percent of freshwater use is for industry, eight percent is for domestic use, and 70 percent — wow! — is for irrigation. It’s estimated that the United States consumes 127 percent more water today than it did in 1950. With such inefficient consumption,
a finite supply of water and an expected 9 billion people on the planet by 2050, perhaps it’s time to
think about conservation.
What’s the big deal about stormwater? You hear the term in relation to construction projects, roadways, permits and the like, but we all influence it, and we all reap the results of it. Stormwater runoff comes as rain flows over land and impervious surfaces such as paved streets, parking lots, and building roof tops, where it gathers debris, chemicals, sediment and other pollutants before flowing
into drains and waterways. Locally, Hilton Head Island’s Public Service Districts do a fantastic job treating and recycling billions of gallons of wastewater annually for re-use on golf courses, landscaping and redirection back into wetlands and lagoons.
But stormwater is not treated or cleaned before going back into the waterways. Think of all the pollutants that flow down your street and into stormwater drains during a rainstorm: fertilizer, dog
poop, oil, pesticides, cleaners, and chemicals from surface treatments such as paints, roofing and other
finishes. Stormwater discharge is nonpoint source pollution, which the EPA considers the top reason
for deterioration of waterways in the United States.
So how can you be a better water steward? Start with small steps, such as installing low-flow shower heads and turning off the water while brushing your teeth to save up to two gallons per minute. Install a rain barrel, which can collect more than 22,000 gallons of free water from your roof every year. Investigate landscaping that incorporates native vegetation.
Teresa Wade is the principal of Sustainable Solutions, a local consultancy helping organizations implement green practices. Contact her at experiecegreen.com or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
