Have you ever watched the rainwater running off your driveway or down your street? Do you know where that water is going? Pollution from stormwater runoff is the #1 health threat to our waterways. Every time it rains, pollution washes off your property and starts its journey through the watershed to the James River and eventually the Chesapeake Bay. As a way to protect citizens, property, and natural resources from unmanaged stormwater run-off, the Virginia Stormwater Management Program was created.
Revisions to the Virginia Stormwater Management Regulations (SWM) became effective September 13, 2011. The revised regulations provide local governments the option of implementing SWM rules in a local program or the alternative is to have local development regulated under a VA DCR – run program. Effective July 1, 2013, VA DEQ is the lead agency for developing and implementing statewide nonpoint source pollution control programs to protect the Commonwealth’s water quality and quantity.
So what can you do to help?
Conserve water
Learn about your watershed
Learn about two types of water pollution
Don’t litter. Recycle.
- Be responsible. Dispose of litter in proper receptacles and recycle as much of your waste as you can.
- Adopt a Road, Street, Park. Check with your local litter prevention program manager.
- Participate in a steam cleanup.
- Recycling and Your Watershed
Help prevent soil erosion
- Plant a tree, some grass or flowers to hold soil in place.
- Create a rain garden
- Plant native plants
- Plant More Plants
- A Virginian’s Guide to Year-Round Lawn Care
Help prevent pet waste
- Clean up after your pet. Dispose of pet waste in your trash can/cart.
- James River Pet Waste Coalition
Learn what all is in your runoff?
- A Virginian’s Guide to Year-Round Lawn Care
- How much nitrogen and phosphorus pollution does your home contribute to the James River? Use the National Stormwater Runoff Calculator to find out.
- Reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers- Compost
Become a River Hero Home
- Becoming a River Hero Home is a simple way to protect the James River.
- This program recognizes homeowners who are successfully taking steps to improve water quality by reducing the amount of stormwater and pollution from their property. Depending where you live may also help you qualify for stormwater rebates or credits offered by your locality.
Additional Resources:
- City of Colonial Heights Stormwater Management
- City of Hopewell Stormwater Management
- City of Petersburg Stormwater Management
- City of Richmond DPU- Stormwater Utility
- Clean Virginia Waterways
- County of Chesterfield Stormwater Management
- County of Goochland Stormwater Management
- County of Hanover Guide to Stormwater and Chesapeake Bay
- County of Henrico Stormwater Management
- County of Powhatan
- EPA Toolkit for Nonpoint source pollution
- Homeowner’s Guide to Stormwater (Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay)
- Middle James River Roundtable
- NASA’s Climate Kids: Water
- Project Clean Stream (Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay Program_
- Rain Barrels- How to Build One
- Simple Things You Can Do to Clean Up Urban Streams & Chesapeake Bay (Source: US EPA Non-Point Source Pollution)
- Town of Ashland- Stormwater Management- You can help.
- VA Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
- VA DEQ Citizen Water Monitoring Program
- VA Department of Health– Help Control Mosquitoes, Spread of Virus (such as Zika) (pdf)
Local Business Resources:
PoopBrigade (Pet Waste Removal Company)
Paul Richardson (804-868-6640)