North Carolina Stormwater Survey Finds Most Unaware Stormwater Not Treated RALEIGH ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ
ÂĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂąâŹÂŠĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ
â What do you really know about stormwater? How about your neighbor? North CarolinaĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs Department of Environment and Natural Resources thinks the answers are very import for two reasons. First, polluted stormwater runoff is the largest source of water pollution in North Carolina and the nation. Second, the number one source of stormwater pollution is people going about their daily business. Most have no idea they are polluting their local water supply. East Carolina UniversityĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs Survey center administered the survey in August and September. Staff placed more than 11,000 calls to get 1,000 completed surveys; a large enough number that the findings have a 95 percent confidence level. The results were a mix of the expected and the unexpected. Survey results are fun to read and talk about, but DENRĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs purpose is to produce and deliver educational materials to the groups that need them most. The survey data identifies groups and other demographic data such as income, age and education so messages can be tailored to different groupsĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂą needs. Protecting water quality through education is not just desirable; many N.C. communities are mandated to do so by the federal government. The U.S. EPA requires communities with certain sizes, growth rates and locations to receive stormwater permits. In addition to education, the permits require other activities like tracking illicit discharges (straight piping) and controlling runoff from construction sites. This surveyĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs focus was outreach and education. It wonĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąt take long to learn if the messages get through. The survey will be conducted again in 2006 and 2007. If scores improve, weĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąll have a better-educated state. We may even have better water quality, but thatĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs not guaranteed. Knowing whatĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs right and actually doing it are two different things. Before state residents make changes, they need good reasons. Since most donĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąt know their actions can harm local water, thatĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs a good place to start. To see the survey or read an analysis of its finding, please visit
North Carolina Stormwater Survey Finds Most Unaware Stormwater Not Treated
RALEIGH ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ ÂĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂąâŹÂŠĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ â What do you really know about stormwater? How about your neighbor? North CarolinaĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs Department of Environment and Natural Resources thinks the answers are very import for two reasons. First, polluted stormwater runoff is the largest source of water pollution in North Carolina and the nation. Second, the number one source of stormwater pollution is people going about their daily business. Most have no idea they are polluting their local water supply.
East Carolina UniversityĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs Survey center administered the survey in August and September. Staff placed more than 11,000 calls to get 1,000 completed surveys; a large enough number that the findings have a 95 percent confidence level. The results were a mix of the expected and the unexpected.
- ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂą Most of us rate water quality as ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂÂčĂÆĂąâŹÂŠĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ âgoodĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂą (42.4 percent), followed by ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂÂčĂÆĂąâŹÂŠĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ âfair.ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂą (39.4 percent)
- ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂą Most of us do not know storm water receives no treatment before storm drains carry it directly to the nearest creek, stream or river. (Only 37.6 percent got this one right.)
- ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂą Most of us (54.2 percent) do not test our soil to determine its needs before applying fertilizer.
- ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂą Some of us (5.8 percent) apply fertilizer monthly. (which is way too much)
- ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂą Some 40 percent of us wash our own vehicles, but more than one-third wash in the driveway.
- ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂą Only one-fifth change their own oil, but 12 percent of them throw used oil in the grass.
- ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂą Most pet walkers do not ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂÂčĂÆĂąâŹÂŠĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ âscoop the poopĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂą but women scoop more than men.
Survey results are fun to read and talk about, but DENRĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs purpose is to produce and deliver educational materials to the groups that need them most. The survey data identifies groups and other demographic data such as income, age and education so messages can be tailored to different groupsĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂą needs.
Protecting water quality through education is not just desirable; many N.C. communities are mandated to do so by the federal government. The U.S. EPA requires communities with certain sizes, growth rates and locations to receive stormwater permits. In addition to education, the permits require other activities like tracking illicit discharges (straight piping) and controlling runoff from construction sites. This surveyĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs focus was outreach and education.
It wonĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąt take long to learn if the messages get through. The survey will be conducted again in 2006 and 2007. If scores improve, weĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąll have a better-educated state. We may even have better water quality, but thatĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs not guaranteed. Knowing whatĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs right and actually doing it are two different things. Before state residents make changes, they need good reasons. Since most donĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąt know their actions can harm local water, thatĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs a good place to start.
To see the survey or read an analysis of its finding, please visit
http://www.ncstormwater.org/pdfs/stormwater_survey_12506.pdf. For more information contact Chrystal Bartlett, DENR stormwater awareness and outreach coordinator, at (919) 715-4116 or ch***************@nc****.net.