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Rainwater and snowmelt are fundamental to life on this planet.
And when pure, clean stormwater runoff flows naturally
into surface waters like streams, rivers lakes and estuaries,
all life benefits: human, animal, even plant life.
But, when runoff from business or government facilities
encounters industrial materials and wastes in its pathway,
all life suffers.
Because stormwater run-off receives absolutely no treatment
before being discharged into surface waters,
polluted run-off immediately becomes polluted surface water.
Drinking water supplies are threatened.
Wildlife habitats are destroyed.
The list of materials that can pollute stormwater run-off is almost endless.
Oils, fuels, chemicals, paint, salt, coal, solvents, detergents,
dust, metal scrap, waste paper, plastic and packaging materials.
Even though operations that use these materials have become
ever more environmentally friendly, the problem still persists.
The National Academy of Sciences estimates that contaminated
stormwater run-off is the primary cause of pollution
in about 18% of lakes and about 32% of estuaries.
Here in the 21st century we've pretty well cleaned up
the large 'point-sources' of water pollution
like industrial wastewater discharges.
So it may seem that the small amount of materials and wastes
that stormwater picks up from your single facility
is a relatively small problem.
Just a drop in the bucket really.
But the trouble is... the water in that bucket that we're polluting
is all the streams, rivers and lakes we'll ever have.
Those drops of stormwater run-off feed into all the fresh water on earth.
That 's why it's so important for all employees to prevent
stormwater pollution in the workplace.
To make sure that every drop that goes into that bucket
is clean and healthy.