What Do You Know About Stormwater?

The following is a news release from the Town of Exeter:

The majority of Exeter’s rivers are designated as “impaired” for one or more use. This means they contain pollutants that can be harmful aquatic life, fish consumption, or humans during water related recreation.   

Our habits play a major role in this pollution. Excess fertilizer from our lawns, pet waste, leaching from improperly maintained septic systems, salt, oil and other chemicals from our driveways all flow across paved surfaces, into storm drains and ultimately to our rivers during rain or snow melt events. This is sometimes referred to as stormwater pollution or non-point source pollution and it has a significant impact on the health of our freshwater wetlands, rivers and ultimately the condition of Great Bay through our Squamscott River connection. 

The Town of Exeter, the Exeter River Study Committee, the Conservation Commission, NH Department of Environmental Services and the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership are working together to develop the Think Blue Exeter program. This program is a collaborative effort to provide residents with simple everyday changes they can make to have a positive influence on Exeter’s water quality and reduce stormwater pollution.

In order to help us evaluate our programs progress, we need residents to assist by taking part in a Water Quality Survey. If you would like to participate in this exciting program please visit the Stormwater Page on the Exeter town website at http://town.exeter.nh.us/html/dpw/stormwater-survey.html and fill out our Stormwater Survey. Copies of the survey will also be available at the entrance to the polls on election day, in town offices, and the library.