MY TURN - Brian Wegener.

Brought to you by: Do-it-now-landscaping.com News: Water Polution href="http://www.oregonlive.com/metrosouthwest/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_southwest_news/1109941646323820.xm">http://www.oregonlive.com/metrosouthwest/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_southwest_news/1109941646323820.xml

Survey after survey reveals that the public believes the biggest source of water pollution is industry.From street to stream, the urban storm sewer system carries this poison.You can pick up after your dog, quit fertilizing your lawn and get those oil leaks fixed on your car.And by all means, don't dump paint, motor oil or anything else down the storm drain.But personal responsibility, at least this type, has its limit.Streets, roofs and parking lots are piped directly to streams.Yes, we should behave more responsibly, but we also must break the street-to-stream connection.Even if the water running through storm drains was boiled, distilled, filtered and sanitized for your protection, we would still have a problem with urban stormwater.Ordinary storms cause flash floods that flush our neighborhood streams, eroding stream banks and stirring up sediments that deplete dissolved oxygen.Because water does not soak into the ground, the groundwater system is running on empty.Perverted pipes are a bigger problem than individual responsibility can address.This month, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is collecting public comments about Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permits that it will issue to other government agencies in Washington, Clackamas and Multnomah counties.Urge agency officials to issue permits that require urban stormwater agencies to meet state water quality standards.Brian Wegener is watershed watch coordinator for the Tualatin Riverkeepers, a nonprofit group that works to protect and restore the Tualatin River system.

brought to you by: www.do-it-now-landscaping.com