The authors of a report on stormwater runoff from the Iowa Policy Project talked to the Environmental Protection Commission today. David Osterberg says report shows the need for the state to do more to keep stormwater from running into waterways.
Osterberg says the more things we lay down, whether it’s rooftops or parking lots, the water that falls goes directly into a water body without being treated. Osterbeg says the water carries lots of contaminants as it runs off.
Osterberg says there’s all kinds of grease and motor oil, and also silt that makes the water brown, that runs off unfiltered into waterways. State Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey just announce the create of four urban conservationist to deal with runoff. Osterberg says that’s a good move.
Osterberg says one of the recommendations made in the report is to have more urban conservationists, and not there are going to be four. Osterberg says there are many things that Iowans can do to clean up runoff.
He says if you think about what you’re doing, you can put down pavement that water will run through, or you can collect the water and treat it. Osterberg says the main thing you have to do is plan ahead. To see the full report called "Managing Iowa Stormwater for Quantity and Quality," visit the Iowa Policy Projects’s website.