Public education and outreach involves using effective mechanisms and programs, guided by a detailed outreach strategy, to\u00a0 engage the public\u2019s interest in preventing stormwater pollution.\u00a0 A key factor to consider when developing a strategy is that\u00a0 the public has varying levels of background knowledge of both stormwater management and their role in reducing stormwater\u00a0 pollution.\u00a0 Hence you should take a multi-pronged approach to outreach efforts by (1) generating basic awareness of\u00a0 stormwater pollution, (2) educating at a more sophisticated level using more substantive content, and (3) building on\u00a0 existing recognition of the issue to prompt behavior changes that reduce pollution (or the opportunities for pollution).<\/p>\n
Marshall University\u2019s MCM # 1<\/a><\/p>\n Marshall University working alone cannot be as effective in reducing stormwater pollution as if it has the participation, partnership, and combined efforts of other groups on campus all working towards the same goal. The point of public involvement is to build on community capital\u00ad\u2014the wealth of interested students, faculty, and staff\u2014to help spread the message on preventing stormwater pollution, to undertake group activities that highlight storm drain pollution, and contribute volunteer community actions to restore and protect the local water resources.<\/p>\n Marshall University\u2019s MCM # 2<\/a><\/p>\n Stormwater regulations define an \u201cillicit discharge\u201d as \u201cany discharge to a municipal separate storm sewer that is not composed entirely of stormwater\u201d (except discharges resulting from fire fighting activities and a few other categories). Common sources of non-stormwater, dry weather discharges in urban areas include apartments and homes, car washes, restaurants, airports, landfills, and gas stations, to name but a few. These so called \u201cgenerating sites\u201d discharge sanitary wastewater, septic system effluent, vehicle wash water, washdown from grease traps, motor oil, antifreeze, gasoline and fuel spills, among other substances. Although these illicit discharges can enter the storm drain system in various ways, they generally result from either direct connections (e.g., wastewater piping either mistakenly or deliberately connected to the storm drains) or indirect connections (e.g., infiltration into the storm drain system, spills, or \u201cmidnight dumping\u201d). Illicit discharges can be further divided into those discharging continuously and those discharging intermittently.<\/p>\n Marshall University\u2019s MCM # 3<\/a><\/p>\n Stormwater runoff from construction sites can have a significant impact on water quality.\u00a0 Runoff, resulting from rainfall or snow melt, flows over construction sites picking up sediment and other pollutants such as building materials, concrete washout, paint, fuel, wastewater, oil and solvents.\u00a0 The contaminated runoff then enters the stormwater system and potentially\u00a0discharged into local\u00a0creek and rivers.\u00a0 Marshall University\u2019s goal to is reasonably prevent pollutants from\u00a0entering the storm\u00a0sewer system.<\/p>\n Marshall University\u2019s MCM # 4<\/a><\/p>\n Considering water quality impacts early in the design process2.\u00a0 Public Involvement and Participation<\/h2>\n
3.\u00a0 Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination<\/h2>\n
4.\u00a0 Construction Site Run-off Control<\/h2>\n
5.\u00a0 Controlling Run-off from New Development and Redevelopment<\/h2>\n
\ncan provide long-term water quality benefits. For example, a project designed
\nwith reduced impervious surfaces and increased use of biofiltration practices
\nwill result in significant reductions in stormwater runoff volume from the
\nsite. New development projects on undeveloped land offer many opportunities to
\nreduce stormwater runoff from the site. Redevelopment projects, which replace
\nan existing development and are typically in more urban areas, usually have
\nless land area available for stormwater controls. Marshall is committed in
\nevaluating all possibilities of reducing stormwater pollutants in new
\ndevelopments and redevelopments as seen in their Stormwater Management Program
\n(SWMP).<\/p>\n