Stormwater Management
Stormwater Management Program (PDF, 972.17 KB)
Stormwater runoff occurs when precipitation from rain flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and streets prevent stormwater runoff from naturally soaking into the ground.
Stormwater can pick up debris, chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants and flow into a storm sewer system or directly to a lake, stream, river, wetland, or coastal water. Anything that enters a storm sewer system is discharged untreated into the waterbodies we use for swimming, fishing and providing drinking water.
Polluted stormwater runoff can have many adverse effects on plants, fish, animals and people.
Sediment can cloud the water and make it difficult or impossible for aquatic plants to grown. Sediment also can destroy aquatic habitats.
Excess nutrients can cause algae blooms. When algae die, they sink to the bottom and decompose in a process that removes oxygen from the water. Fish and other aquatic organisms can't exist in water with low dissolved oxygen levels.
Bacteria and other pathogens can wash into swimming areas and create health hazards, often making beach closures necessary.
Debris - plastic bags, six-pack rings, bottles, and cigarette butts - washed into waterbodies can choke, suffocate, or disable aquatic life like ducks, fish, turtles, and birds.
Household hazardous wastes like insecticides, pesticides, paint, solvents, used motor oil, and other auto fluids can poison aquatic life. Land animals and people can become sick from eating diseased fish and shellfish or ingesting polluted water.
Polluted stormwater often affects drinking water sources. This, in turn, can affect human health and increase drinking water treatment cost.
Hands In For Healthy Streams
The eight part series "Hands in for healthy streams" is a cooperative effort between the City of Buford and the local business community.
We hope you'll join with the City of Buford and other area businesses by participating in this program. We appreciate your continued cooperation and stewardship in the protection of our water quality.
Business Housekeeping Practices (PDF, 848.91 KB)
Maintaining Stormwater Controls (PDF, 555.64 KB)
Maintaining Equipment Vehicles (PDF, 704.95 KB)
Maintaining Buildings Pavement (PDF, 1.27 MB)
Maintaining Landscapes (PDF, 1.46 MB)
SiteDesign Construction
Managing Waste (PDF, 1017.65 KB)
Education (PDF, 328.06 KB)
Where to dispose your used motor oil (PDF, 311.3 KB)
Help Keep Our City Clean
Please do not dispose of oils, chemicals, yard waste, or other pollutants in stormwater structures. If you see someone illegally dumping pollutants or have a stormwater concern in the City of Buford, please report your concern online using the following link: Customer Online Request
Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful offers local activities and opportunities to be involved in community issues such as air and water quality, recycling, and greenspaces. You can find more information about Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful at their website: www.gwinnettcb.org.
We all can help reduce stormwater pollution in our rivers, lakes, and streams. Prevention at the source, is the best way to reduce stormwater pollution. By understanding the problem and then preventing it, we can keep our waterways clean and help control the health of our environment. The "Clean Water Campaign" website is a valuable tool in protecting our environment: Clean Water Campaign
"Be A Solution to Water Pollution" Please take a look at this brochure about Household Solutions for Preventing Water Pollution from Hazardous Wastes: Preventing Water Pollution from Hazardous Wastes (PDF, 627.44 KB)
Be A Solution To Water Pollution
- Have your septic system inspected and pumped at least once every three to five years. Septic tanks can be cleaned by cleaning firms permitted by the Gwinnett County Health Department. This type of work should only be done by experienced professionals who will pump the entire contents of the tank into a tank truck and then dispose of the contents in an approved, sanitary manner. Contact the Health Department for additional information. Septic Tank Brochure (PDF, 925.07 KB)
- Never dump anything down a storm drain or a drainage ditch.
- Recycle motor oil and other vehicle fluids.
- Throw litter in its place.
- Clean up after your pet.
- Compost yard clippings.
- Wash your vehicle on your lawn rather than on pavement.
- Tell a friend or neighbor about how to prevent pollution and get involved in your community.
Drinking Water and Ground Water Kids' Stuff
Please go to the kids links below for games, exercises and activities.