The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week released a new guidebook on managing runoff pollution caused by urban activities.

National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Urban Areas is an information source for states and cities to use in their pollution-management programs for protecting waterways. It is intended to be a textbook and toolkit for cooperative conservation and sustainable management of urban and suburban runoff.

Nonpoint source pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many sources. They include contaminated runoff from paved surfaces, malfunctioning septic systems, pet wastes, over-applied fertilizers and pesticides, improperly disposed household chemicals, and motor-vehicle fluids.

The management measures provide details about setting up a framework to manage urban pollution, including storm water management. Also included are subjects such as: watershed and site protection, new development, on-site wastewater treatment (septic) systems, transportation, construction, bridges and highways, construction site erosion, sediment, and chemical control, existing urban areas, pollution prevention, operation and maintenance and program evaluation.

The guidebook is free and available online.

12/9/2005