News From Our Pipeline Company About “No Dig” Trenchless Technology

Agricultural runoff meets drinking water.

How many times have you passed a planted field while driving through the state of Georgia? I myself can not imagine the number of farms I’ve seen in my twenty one years. Although I will always hold a special place in my heart for the farms I watched both sets of grandparents work. As a little girl I spent the majority of my time outside playing, and every now and then I was rounded up to help harvest. I always understood the importance of farming and knew exactly where my food was coming from.

As I got older I began to learn more about pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers and why they were necessary to produce the best crop possible. However something that had never crossed my mind was where do all those chemicals end up? Considering dry weather the majority ends up right where its supposed to on the plants it was intended for and evaporate slowly. But what if it rains? This is where things can get hairy and we can encounter Agriculture Runoff.

Agricultural Runoff is water from farm fields due to things like irrigation and rain or even melted snow that flows over the land and can absorb into the ground, enter bodies of waters, or evaporate. This runoff can contain things like defoliates, pesticides, sediment (soil particles), nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium from fertilizers) and metals, which can contaminate sources of water.

Likewise fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides that you apply to your lawn can also find its way into water sources through storm drains/sewers. When these chemicals go into storm drains they are then discharged untreated into local streams, rivers and other surface water bodies. This can turn into drinking water for someone else and also affect local wildlife and their habitat.

So what can we do at home? Well we need to be careful about how and when we use chemicals on our lawns and crops. By making simple changes such as choosing organic alternatives when possible, and checking the weather forecast to avoid applying them before a storm we can cut down on the storm water pollution. Below are few other good points to remembering only rain belongs in the storm sewer drains.

• Don’t dump anything down storm drains.
• Wash your car over your lawn or gravel. This allows the ground to neutralize the soap and grime from your car rather than sending it directly to our creeks and streams.
• Keep your septic system well-maintained to prevent leaks. A leaking septic system can leach harmful bacteria into storm sewer systems and local waterways.
• It is also important to keep your system well- maintained to prevent costly repairs. 
• Do not drain your pool, spa, or fountain to a storm drain. Allow chlorine to dissipate for several days. Test the water to ensure the residual chlorine is zero before slowly draining to a landscaped area. You may be able to drain to a sanitary sewer. Contact your local municipality for more information.

Water Quality & What You Can Do About It

We all want our household water to be clean and healthy; and when water flows out of the faucet into a glass, it usually appears to be so. But in recent years reports have shown harmful contaminants in the water supply that can cause cancer, developmental issues in children, problems in pregnancy and other serious health conditions. Harmful contaminants such as Radium, Bromate, and Chloroform have been found in towns or water utilities. This hits close to home for me considering the water you drink comes from someplace upstream. So, when those sources become polluted your drinking water also becomes polluted.

 You may ask what we can do to make improvements on the quality of the water we drink. As homeowners you can reduce the levels of contaminants in your water simply by buying a water filter. To find the most effective filter, look for certifications from the Water Quality Association and NSF International. Different filters remove different contaminants. It’s important to remember, though, that even high-quality filters are not 100 percent effective. You should keep your filters changed on a regular basis, because old filters that are never replaced can host bacteria, which also pose potential dangers. People who don’t get their water through a public utility will have different needs. If you are on a private well you should probably have your water tested regularly.

As a company Southeast Pipe works to keep your water clean by surveying and rehabilitating sewer pipe. For example, if a sewer pipe is damaged for a period of time not only can it create a sinkhole that poses a major threat to homes, roads, and other infrastructures. It can also allow untreated water to mix with ground water that goes into our rivers, lakes, oceans and drinking water. When that happens not only does it potentially affect our families’ drinking water, but it also affects local aquatic ecosystems. For example the nitrates, phosphates, and organic matter found in human waste serve as food for algae and bacteria. This causes these organisms to overpopulate to the point where they use up most of the oxygen that is naturally found in water, making it difficult for other organisms in this aquatic environment to live. Our team knows the importance of their jobs and work hard every day to make a difference not only for Georgia but for our surrounding states, our families, and our environment.

Flood Insurance Doesn’t Pay for Every Type of Flood Disaster

 You have flood insurance, so you’re covered…..right?

If you live in an HOA or Condo Association, the storm drain systems, including stormwater pipe, were likely installed by the developer.  This means the association and it’s members (You) might have assumed responsibility for these assets.