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Stormwater runoff is the nation's number one source of water pollution. Stormwater runoff is water from rain or melting snow that “runs off” across the land instead of seeping into the ground.Generally speaking, stormwater is rain (also melting snow and ice) that washes off driveways, parking lots, roads, yards, rooftops, and other hard surfaces. Stormwater picks up pollution, such as chemicals, bacteria, sediment, and trash, and washes these things into ditches and storm drains, and then into creeks, rivers, ponds, and lakes. This is referred to as stormwater runoff. Polluted runoff generally happens anywhere people use or alter the land. For example, in developed areas, none of the water that falls on hard surfaces like roofs, driveways, parking lots or roads can seep into the ground. These impervious surfaces create large amounts of runoff that picks up pollutants. The runoff flows from gutters and storm drains to streams. Runoff not only pollutes but erodes stream banks. The mix of pollution and eroded dirt muddies the water and causes problems downstream.
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