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In Charlotte-Mecklenburg:
1) Rainwater that flows down our streets goes straight to our streams
2) Storm water runoff is not treated or cleaned
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Straight from our streets.... ....to our streams.
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Two separate "sewers"
Our storm drainage system uses one set of pipes. Excess rainwater flows into storm drains, then is piped directly into creeks. The water is not treated. The system was designed to quickly remove rainwater from streets, parking lots and other surfaces.
Our sanitary sewers use a completely different set of pipes. Wastewater from toilets, showers and other plumbing travels through pipes to one of five Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities' sewage treatment plants. The wastewater is cleaned and must meet specific water quality standards before CMU discharges it into creeks.
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The problem
Rainwater is not the only thing going into our storm drainage system. Urban pollution such as
is carried by storm water directly into creeks. Some people make things worse by dumping used motor oil, paint, car wash suds, or other chemicals down storm drains—which is illegal.
The result
Whatever was on our streets and parking lots winds up in our creeks, then our lakes. The pollution can choke aquatic life such as fish. Our streams and coves often look muddy when it rains. Property is eroded away. When people treat our storm drain system like a "sewer," it spoils our water quality and detracts from our quality of life.
The solution
Prevent pollution at the source! Learn how
Why isn't storm water treated to remove pollutants?
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