KENNETH CITY – Town officials are asking residents to help them identify individuals or companies that may be polluting storm drains and water.
John Dutton, public works supervisor, also warned residents to be careful with grass clippings since they are a major source of pollutants.
“All storm water eventually winds up in the Gulf of Mexico,” Dutton said. “Grass clippings and other pollutants can and do injure and even kill sealife.”
Dutton said grass clippings contain chemicals from fertilizers and insecticides. He said people should be cautious about sweeping clippings into the streets and into storm drains.
Many people sweep the clippings into the streets without realizing the dangers. Eventually the clippings become a source of pollution and environmentally dangerous to not only other plantlife and humans, but to sealife as well once it enters gulf waters.
The town must meet expectations as established by NPDES, a national pollution elimination system, that requires certain annual procedures, inspections and reports.
“Pollution is a very real and dangerous problem,” Dutton said. “We are doing everything possible to end it and educate our residents about what can be done.”
Dutton said violators should be reported to him at 547-2057 or to police at 544-2564.
