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Quality Control
Unfortunately, history has shown that when stormwater is exposed to areas of urban and rural development, the quality of the stormwater degrades. This degradation process is due to exposure to chemicals, nutrients, and passing over surfaces of increased temperatures. These contaminants all reduce the ability of the receiving water body to sustain life. The most common concerns include:
- Nutrient loading (phosphorous);
- Road salt;
- Road sand;
- Automotive by-products from incomplete combustion;
- Leaking containers or automobiles; and
- Solid waste not properly disposed of.
The same fertilizer products that help your lawn to grow can also be damaging to aquatic environments. One of the major contaminants of concern outlined in the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan is phosphorous. According to the plan, 56% of the phosphorous entering Lake Simcoe is conveyed through streams and rivers in which stormwater drains into. Phosphorous causes the increase of plant life, much like it does on your yard, but in an aquatic environment this can be devastating to the balance of oxygen. When the plants die, microorganisms breakdown the plants and consume oxygen. In doing so, oxygen is depleted so much so that fish and other aquatic organisms cannot survive.
New stormwater rates took effect January 1, 2017.
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