Knox County Tennessee

Pollution Prevention

Back to the Stormwater Water Quality Programs Page

What IS Stormwater Runoff?

Stormwater runoff is simply rain that falls to the ground that does NOT infiltrate (absorb) into the soil.

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Why Should I Care about Stormwater Pollution?

People like to fish, swim, and recreate around clean bodies of water. We also get our drinking water from utilities that draw from rivers and lakes. The more polluted the water becomes, the more it costs taxpayers to clean it up.

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How Does Stormwater Become Polluted?

Stormwater runoff picks up whatever is on the ground (car fluids like oil, gasoline, antifreeze; trash, pet waste, sediment) and carries it to the nearest body of water (creek, river, lake, ocean)

stormwater image
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Storm_Drain.JPG


Am I Contributing to Stormwater Pollution?

Property owners of all kinds inadvertently contribute to stormwater pollution, often without even realizing it. Take the Stormwater Pollution Potential Homeowner’s Quiz to see how stormwater savvy you are at home!


What is a Watershed?

A watershed is an area of land that drains to a common body of water, like a river or lake. Everyone lives in a watershed! What watershed do you live in? Find out by clicking the link below, then entering your address in the search box at the top of the page. Your parcel will come up on the map with the name of your watershed in the middle of the page.

Knox County KGIS

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