Alpharetta, Georgia – A key part of urban infrastructure, stormwater drains are extremely important for rainwater management. They are sometimes abused as dumping sites for several contaminants. The local government in Alpharetta is stressing the need of maintaining these drains clear of pollutants not intended for them, including grass clippings, yard garbage, used oil, and household chemicals.
Unlike the sanitary sewer system, stormwater drains do not lead to treatment facilities, therefore these chemicals can harm the environment. The water—and all it carries—instead flows straight into streams and rivers close by. Pollutants thrown in these drains can therefore fast reach nearby rivers, endangering animals, upsetting ecosystems, potentially compromising community health and safety.
The City of Alpharetta defines these inappropriate disposals as “illicit discharge,” a significant contributor to pollution that can compromise the condition of water bodies. The city has worked to inform its citizens on the need of appropriate trash disposal and the direct influence their activities may have on the environment in order to offset this problem.
Local residents are encouraged to be watchful and notify any actions that might trigger pollution. Maintaining the health of the local aquatic ecosystems depends on this proactive community participation.
Tools enabling individuals to actively participate in environmental stewardship, the city’s committed forms and the See-Click-Fix portal allow residents to report suspected pollution. Alpharetta residents may help to preserve and maintain their local waterways by knowing how stormwater systems work and how pollutants affect them, so guaranteeing their health and security for future generations.
