Pollution sleuths looking for toxics in stormwater

For most of us in Eastern Washington a rainstorm means a nice cool drink for our lawns and gardens. For pollution detectives in our Spokane office, the rain sets them into motion. They need samples. Hopping into their mobile lab they head into the storm, collecting water from storm drains. They’re looking for toxic chemical hot spots resulting from our urban environment. Ecology’s Spokane Urban Waters team is trying to figure out from where the toxic chemicals are coming that pollute our lakes, creeks, and the Spokane River. When rainwater hits hard surfaces like rooftops, parking lots, and roadways, it washes into nearby ditches, swales, and storm drains. It’s not just rainwater, though. The water picks up a variety of pollutants on the way. In Spokane, this stormwater is funneled through an underground system of pipes that include storm systems, sanitary sewer, and Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO). This web of pipes allows our team to target specific areas within our urban environment while sampling. Unfortunately, two members of the Urban Waters Team, Ted Hamlin and Arianne Fernandez, were setting up to install a 24-hour sampler inside the South Valley sewer interceptor last week when they noticed two different people giving them the “eye.” “We thought nothing of it,” Ted said. “But about 10 minutes after arrival, a local police officer showed up. We told him what we were doing and it helped to have our official ID cards. We joked a bit with him and he left. Ten minutes later a fire engine company showed up because they also received a call. “Residents called police because they thought we were dumping hazardous waste into the sewer system. But it’s the other way around. We were looking for it so we could get rid of it,” Ted said. This is a good story because we’re all better off if people do call when they see someone polluting the water. When the Spokane team is in the field, it isn’t just looking for anything. They’re trying to pinpoint the source of some of the most worrisome pollutants in the river: lead and other heavy metals; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); PBDEs (or toxic flame retardants); dioxins and furans. Some of the pollution is a legacy of historic land use practices; others are chemicals found in consumer products, and still others are commonly used in business or industry today. Together with Spokane Regional Health District’s local source control specialists, they’re helping local businesses to prevent hazardous chemicals from making their way into the river. So if you see our team out sampling in the rain or working with businesses in your neighborhood, remember these pollution detectives are working to improve our river and our community. And by all means, call Ecology at 509-329-3400 if you see someone dumping anything into the river or sewer system! The Spokane River Urban Waters Initiative is just one way we are Reducing Toxic Threats in Washington State. You can see an animation of a CSO system at the City of Bremerton’s CSO’s explained page.