Pollution Sources

No doubt you've heard the saying, "What goes around comes around." Well, it's especially true of fertilizers, household cleaners and other man-made products we use. If used or disposed of improperly, residue from these products ends up somewhere, which can include our groundwater supply, the Edwards Aquifer. So, who's responsible for making sure the water we drink is clean? We all are. And here's the best part, it doesn't require a lot of effort - just common sense.

Where does pollution come from?
People, mostly, but to help narrow things down, two categories have been identified:

Point Source Pollution

In plain English, this is the kind of pollution you can trace to the point where it started (hence the name). Examples include illegal dumping or untreated waste from factory discharge pipes. Since we know where this pollution comes from, it can be monitored and controlled.

Non-Point Source Pollution

This one isn't as easy to pinpoint because it's a combination of things, like fertilizers, pesticides and hazardous chemicals from a variety of sources and places. These pollutants seep through the soil and into the groundwater or enter local waters as a result of heavy rains.

Run Away
Heavy rains cause stormwater to runoff, picking up toxins from the ground. Toxins include excess fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides, motor oil, car battery acid and other harmful chemicals from products that have been improperly discarded. Other examples include sediment from construction sites and bacteria from faulty septic systems. Because stormwater is untreated, it along with any pollutants can flow directly into our streams, rivers, and lakes if we're not careful.

Who's in Charge?
Here in San Antonio, the Resource Protection and Compliance Division at SAWS, in cooperation with the City of San Antonio (COSA) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), is responsible to see that point and non-point source pollution is properly controlled. SAWS informs folks about the impact that pollution has on our rivers. They also review erosion control plans, inspect construction and industrial sites for permit compliance, and coordinate training workshops for the construction and industry trades.

Storm Drain Stenciling Program

The Storm Drain Stenciling Program was initiated in March 1998. Approximately 400 storm drains received stencils to help increase public awareness of stormwater and the storm drain system throughout the city (storm drain inlets are direct conduits to our waterways).