Winter Weather and Pollution

The winter season presents its own unique challenges when it comes to preventing pollution. Through processes such as thermal inversion, warm air can trap more humid polluted air. This phenomenon, coupled with the evolution in precipitation patterns, presents an increase in overall pollution. The following tips address ways of limiting stormwater contamination:

• Check on your storm drains! Make sure they are clear of debris and trash.
• Stay alert for shifting drainage patterns and be aware how your runoff may affect others-- it is not uncommon for stormwater runoff to freeze, which can make roads more dangerous.
• Explore eco-friendly alternatives to road salt to minimize the amount of chloride that could end up in fresh waters, as well as certain forms of infrastructure.
• Use shovels and other tools to minimize the amount of deicer applied—it is more effective to reduce the snow and ice present before adding a substance to melt it.
• Keep tabs on the weather: road salt is ineffective at temperatures below 15°F (-9°C).
• Cold weather can cause pipes to burst! With older pipes, let the water drip to prevent them from freezing, and keep the thermostat set to a consistent level; broken pipes can lead to bacteria and other pollutants in the water.
• Winterize your plants/maintain any natural vegetation around the building. Root systems, like riparian forest buffers, are great at absorbing nutrients, pollutants, and water alike; clear away dead foliage to get ready for heavy winter storms. Additionally, you can cover your plants to help them survive the freezing weather.

There are many ways to contribute this winter, both large and small. By making these changes to reduce pollution where possible, we aren’t just protecting our neighbors and coworkers, but we’re also saving the wildlife population. I personally challenge each of you readers to make at least one lasting change this year about your approach to stormwater management.

For further reading, be sure to click on the hyperlinks for referenced articles.