For a region

the size of metropolitan Atlanta about four million people there is a

finite amount of water. In fact, the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River

above the Atlanta region comprise one of the smallest watersheds serving

a major metropolitan area in the U.S. It supplies 70 percent of metro

Atlanta's drinking water and is used for industrial supply, irrigation,

power generation, navigation and recreation.

Each time it

rains, the resulting storm water runoff picks up pollutants and debris

such as litter, yard fertilizers, pesticides, metal, motor oil and sediment

as it flows across rooftops and lawns, streets and parking lots. Storm

water collects in storm drains and drainage swales and is eventually deposited

untreated into rivers, lakes and streams.

Storm water

pollution makes treatment of drinking water more difficult and costly,

and it hinders the health of aquatic ecosystems, ARC experts say. If polluted

storm water contaminates water sources, the result can be the closing

of the region's rivers, lakes and streams from public recreation.

The Clean Water

Campaign will promote the protection of water quality by encouraging residents

and businesses to take action to reduce those activities that lead to

non-point source water pollution in the region. Pollution prevention methods

for metro residents include reducing pesticide use, education on the proper

use of fertilizer, proper household hazardous waste disposal, motor oil

recycling, composting yard clippings, responsible pet waste disposal and

reducing other potential water pollutants to streams, rivers and lakes.

The campaign

was launched with initial funding of $720,000, primarily from local governments.

"Since

1994 local governments in the Atlanta region each have actively undertaken

storm water public education activities," said Wayne Hill, chairman

of both the Gwinnett County Commission and ARC. "We hope the Clean

Water Campaign will be a mechanism through which we can speak with a collective

voice to amplify the simple actions citizens can take to reduce storm

water pollution."

The local governments

involved in the initial Campaign effort are Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton

and Gwinnett counties and the cities of Acworth, Alpharetta, Atlanta,

Austell, College Park, East Point, Fairburn, Hapeville, Kennesaw, Marietta,

Palmetto, Powder Springs, Roswell, Smyrna and Union City.

For information

phone Kelley OBrien with ARC or visit the campaign's Web site at www.cleanwatercampaign.com .

Top ten things

you can do to be a solution to storm water pollution

1. Never dump

anything down a storm drain or into a drainage ditch.

2. Recycle

motor oil and other vehicle fluids.

3. Throw litter

in its place.

4. Clean up

after your pet.

5. Check your

vehicles for leaks, and repair them.

6. Dispose

of household hazardous wastes at designated locations.

7. Compost

yard clippings.

8. Use fertilizer

and pesticide only when needed. Read the label.

9. If you

wash your vehicle at home, do so on the lawn rather than the pavement.

10. Tell a

friend or neighbor about how to prevent storm water pollution and get

involved in your community.

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