Chattahoochee River
By: Adlyn, Nyla, Ilhana, Adam
About The River
The Chattahoochee River forms in the southern half of Alabama and Georgia border and a portion of Florida's border. The Chattahoochee River is home to 24 species of fresh water aquatic turtles, about 37 species of sirens and salamanders, about 30 species of toads and frogs, and the American alligator. The river is home to 9 state endangered or threatened plant species. the second southern-most trout habitat is the Chattahoochee River.
The Problem
There are 2 types of pollution that is in the Chattahoochee River. There is point source and non-point source. Point-source pollution is when water pollution starts from a certain place. For the Chattahoochee River, the point-source pollution is that over 100 million gallons per day of of treated waste water are being discharged into the river. The non-point source is when any contaminant that ends up on the ground naturally or from human activity. The non-point source of the Chattahoochee is because of urban runoffs, agricultural activies, trash, and debris.
Why is it a problem?
Plan of Action
- Get rid of harmful material properly. If pollutants reach rain water or are buried underground can contaminate the water
- Do not hose off your driveway or sidewalks. Use a broom instead.
- Never get rid of oil or other waste down a catch basin. It will lead straight to local streams and contaminate the watershed.
- Never add lawn chemicals on days when it is predicted to rain in the next 48 hours.
- Wash your vehicles and equipment over lawn or gravel to prevent polluted runoff from entering storm drains.