STORMWATER

Lunacy!  Pure lunacy!  
I always wanted to start an article with those words, and now I have.  
So, what does lunacy have to do with stormwater?  Let’s see…

Have you noticed the very high and very low tides?  Water lapping at the porch followed by a
long walk to Long Island Sound.  We often blame the moon, hence the lunacy.  But, it is really
the combination of the sun and moon.  (Maybe we should add a little global warming for anxiety,
drama and flair.)  Stormwater infrastructure is inundated by the highest tide; this tends to lift
isolated pollutants and allows them to transport into the tidal waterbody.  Extreme low tides
expose tidal mud flats releasing lots of noxious gases.  The decay of organic material goes into
high-gear upon exposure to the air.  Oxygen just makes things happen!

The first few weeks of summer have been dry; allowing pollutants to concentrate along our
roadways and lawns.  When the rains arrive, and they will, the undesirables will be transported
to the lowest point.  Unfortunately, for us, that would be the Connecticut River and Long Island
Sound.  The first significant rain, following a dry-spell, will deliver a nutrient-rich “soup” to the
environment.

What, you ask, can be done to prevent this catastrophe?  Phase II Stormwater!  Advanced
collection and transport of stormwater, using “best management practices”, allows for some
mitigation of the contaminants prior to discharge.  Vegetated detention ponds and swales
provide for nutrient uptake and buffers the stormwater flow.  

Tens of thousands of vehicles pass through Old Saybrook’s I-95 corridor everyday.  That traffic
releases tons, that’s right, tons of nitrogen and carbon compounds.  They combine with water
vapor and form acids.  That layer of dust on your vehicle could be deposits of oxidation-
reduction product.  Mixed with a little water those deposits form a type of low-grade fertilizer.  
So, does washing the family vehicle fertilize the yard?  Maybe, but most likely, it will wind up in
someone else’s yard.  (It’s very similar to the fertilizer and herbicides that we put on our lawns.)  

Once again, it’s Phase II Stormwater that provides some level of relief.  Metals and inorganic
compounds will be captured and retained in the chambers of Phase II Stormwater basins.  
Hydrocarbons will be fixed in absorbent material or held in reservoirs.  We will have to devise
new maintenance and servicing schedules and new equipment will need to be acquired or
rented for some of this work.   It’s unfortunate that we cannot simply eliminate the sources of
contamination.  After all, these are the byproducts of civilization and progress.

Steve Luckett
WPCA Coordinator

From July 2004 Newsletter