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Posted by James Monroe
on May 10, 2015
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Have you ever thought about where the water goes that falls on the roads, sidewalks and parking lots of our community? For many years, retention tanks or ponds have been constructed alongside roads, highways, and in business and housing developments. These ponds are designed to mimic wetlands. Wetlands naturally filter the water and provide habitat for numerous species. What happens to the water in those ponds when the ponds overflow? As we know, man has a huge impact on the environment and this impact affects the places that the runoff goes to. So…what should we do?
It was with these questions in mind that we heard a presentation by Ann Boyce of the Environmental Coalition of South Seattle (ECOSS) about the programs and services they provide business owners to mitigate the damage done by hazardous materials. When these materials are contained and captured before entering the water collection systems, then we are better off.
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Ann explained that their are two water collection systems. Sanitary--commonly known as sewer--and storm water. Sanitary systems are those that collect waste water from homes and businesses and go through water treatment facilities like the one here in Lake Stevens along Sunnyside Boulevard at 10th St SE. Storm water systems are those that collect water from hard surfaces in our communities. Primarily asphalt roads, parking lots and the like. She added that sewer systems can be overwhelmed as well. Excess flow from those systems can get into the storm systems. As you can image this creates major problems.
A third system is a combined sanitary and storm water system. All of the water and material in a combined system goes through treatment. Septic systems can affect groundwater as well so it is imperative that we all take care of the environment. Ann noted that waste water treatment plants are a recent development in our history. They started being used in the 1950's.
Ann added that the health of the Puget Sound is important for many reasons including the orca whale population and the economic impact on the fisheries if the water is polluted. One of the prime sources of the Sound is the Duwamish River. Did you know that it is currently a SuperFund Cleanup Site? Many in attendance did not know this and were quite surprised.
ECOSS provides most of its programs and services for free. These include spill kits, assistance with permits, best management practices, hazardous materials management, conservation programs, commercial waster audits, and contamination clean-up. Several of our members who own businesses took spill kits that Ann had brought. By being proactive, Ann said, that owners can reduce or eliminate spill clean-up costs, exposures to hazardous materials and possibly fines and penalties.
The Environmental Coalition of South Seattle is a nonprofit organization that encourages urban redevelopment and a healthy environment by providing education, resources, and technical assistance to diverse businesses and communities in the Puget Sound Region. Ann Boyce is a Sustainable Business Associate at ECOSS. In this capacity, Ann helps businesses manage their storm water runoff and reduce the amount of pollution reaching our local waterways. She also has a background in recycling, composting, hazardous waste handling and management.
Prior to joining ECOSS in April 2011, Ann was the Executive Director of the Stilly-Snohomish Fisheries Enhancement Task Force, involved with salmon habitat restoration and watershed education. She has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology from Western Washington University and an Associate’s in Hazardous Waste Handling and Management from Shoreline Community College.
Thank you Ann for visiting us in Lake Stevens. You can reach Ann at ECOSS at www.ecoss.org.
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