Quality of Life

Stormwater pollution affects the way a river or lake looks and smells, making it unpleasant to be near. This can impact the quality of life for everyone living in and around a community.

• Trash and debris in the drainage system can lead to foul odors and may attract rodents and other pests. If trash reaches the stream, it ruins the beauty for everyone.
  
  
• Nobody likes to see river water running the color of rust, but when excessive sediment washes into our streams, they no longer run clear. Large amounts of sediment can harm the quality of life and reduce opportunities for recreation due to infilling of creeks, ponds and lakes.
  
  
• Increased nutrients, usually from fertilizers, may cause algae blooms, particularly on ponds and small lakes. These blooms cover the water surface with a thick green film. These algae blooms not only makes the pond visually unpleasing, they choke out the other vegetation and aquatic life.
  
  
• Streams polluted with oil have a reflective, unhealthy glow. Four quarts of oil can cause an eight-acre oil slick if spilled or dumped down a storm drain. This can lead to fish kills and other unsightly problems as well as create foul odors from the decaying of fish.
  
  
• Reducing the amount of pollutants, household chemicals, and sediment can help maintain the quality of a stream. In return, a healthier stream will improve conditions and increase the quality of life.
  
  
• High concentrations of E. Coli (Escherichia coli) bacteria from human and animal waste that is carried into our beaches by stormwater is the main reason for beach closures. Information on Lake Michigan beach closings can found by searching the Wisconsin Beach Watch Website monitored and funded by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and other partners.