Polluted stormwater is the number one source of water pollution in the Unites States.
In North Carolina, 364,000 acres of shellfish beds have been closed due to pollution. In the U.S., 40 percent of rivers and streams are too polluted for fishing and swimming.
In North Carolina, we've developed stormwater rules requiring communities in vulnerable watersheds to take steps to reduce the pollution in stormwater runoff.
The City of Oxford sits at the headwaters of the Tar-Pamlico River Basin. We are one of the six cities and five counties in the watershed required to develop a Stormwater Management Plan under the Tar-Pamlico Stormwater Rules.
The purpose of our Plan is to reduce stormwater pollution draining into the river from our community. Our Management Plan addresses four required elements:
- New Development Reviews - New developments are required to use current best practices to reduce stormwater runoff by 30% and to meet specific limits on nitrogen and phosphorous in runoff.
- Illegal Discharges - Oxford is required to develop a plan for locating and correcting illegal discharges of pollutants.
- Retrofit Locations - Many older sites can be retrofitted to reduce runoff pollution and there are several sources of funding available to do that. Our job in Oxford is to identify sites that could benefit from retrofitting.
- Public Education - Citizens can help reduce stormwater pollution by changing simple habits. This website is one part of the City's plan to tell people that stormwater pollution threatens our natural waterways, that storm drains carry water directly to the creeks without being treated, and that each of us can take simple steps to reduce the pollution in the stormwater running downstream out of our community. You can spread the word by telling your family, friends and neighbors about stormwater pollution and about this site. Thanks for your help!
Words and Facts
Clean Water Act - the Federal law that protects our rivers, lakes and oceans.
It requires large- and medium-sized towns across the United States to take steps to
reduce the pollution in stormwater runoff.
Phase II Communities - Stormwater rules in the Clean Water Act were implemented in two phases. The first phase applied to large cities around the nation.
The second phase applies to medium and small cities, fast growing cities, and communities located near sensitive waters - now referred to as "Phase II communities".
Oxford is not a Phase II community, but the requirements of the Tar-Pamlico Stormwater Rules are very similar
to the Clean Water Act requirements for Phase II communities.
Watershed - All the land that drains into one river basin. If we want to protect that river as a source of drinking
water or for wildlife, we need to look at all the potential sources of pollution throughout the watershed.
Links to More Information
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Surf Your Watershed - This EPA site offers detailed information about every Watershed in the United States.
We are in the Upper Tar Watershed (Cataloging Unit #03020101).
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The Tar-Pamlico River Basin - presents a good map of the basin, events in the area, and contacts.
