Project under way regarding stormwater drains

November 23, 2007

By CHARLOTTE PERKINS| Houston Home Journal

Imagine the drought is over, which it will be, and rain is pounding down on pavement all across Houston County. Where does all that rainwater go? Into gutters?

And where does it go then?

Ask Walton and Becky Wood, and they'll tell you that the gutters lead to stormwater drains that lead eventually to natural waterways such as branches and creeks and on, eventually into rivers. Walton Wood, grew up near Sandefur Road and he knows the water that drains from the streets at the Gates subdivision runs into Saul's Branch, a wet weather stream that runs into a spring that feeds Mossy Creek southeast of Lake Joy.

The Woods are volunteers for the Altamaha Riverkeepers and have a special concern for Houston County's impact on the Ocmulgee basin.

"Our purpose," Wood explains, "is to assist ARK in ensuring the protection of water quality and natural habitat in the tributaries of the Ocmulgee in Houston County and middle Georgia."

This education program, which is being conducted by the Houston County Department of Public Works is one the Woods are solidly behind.

Here's the message they're helping to send.

• When it comes to storm drains, you shouldn't pour anything down a gutter than you wouldn't drink or swim in.


• Wash your car on your lawn and not in the driveway or street.


• Don't overuse fertilizers or pesticides. Fertilizers promote algal and weed growth and pesticides can be toxic to people and fish.


• Pick up pet wastes because fecal bacteria from animals can lower water quality.


• Fix your car's oil leaks and bring used oil to a recycling location.