Welcome to our newest avenue of outreach! Here, the Stormwater Management Team will introduce new topics throughout the year. These topics will guide us on a more eco-friendly and environmentally conscious journey to reducing pollutants and protecting our natural resources in North Augusta!

All About Trees

Trees are planted and maintained throughout the City of North Augusta by the Property Maintenance Department.  They do this is for many reasons including the beautiful scenery they add to the city landscape and for their environmental and economic impact on city growth.  Below are specific reasons you may not have considered:

1) Trees add "Quality" to a Location 

• increase residential property values by 15% or more
• urban parks provide spaces to hold events that boost the local economy
• greenspaces allow residents to relax, enjoy nature, and enjoy the outdoors

2) Trees Save Energy

• trees reduce energy use by adding shade in the summer and blocking winds in the winter
• tree remove CO² and other green house gasses from the atmosphere

3) Trees Improve the Quality of the Air

• trees bind and can dissolve water soluble pollutants through natural processes 
• they hold gaseous pollutants in their leaves, branches, roots and trunk
• shading buildings reduce the demand to run an AC unit and the formation of ozone

4) Trees Encourage Outdoor Activities

• tree-lined streets are more inviting to people encouraging them to walk or walk further in their community
• more walkers in a community encourages transit oriented development 
• street trees promote calmer, slower traffic through populated areas

5) Trees Reduce Stormwater Runoff 

• trees are sponges that help to recharge groundwater
• reduce amounts of runoff and pollutants into creeks and streams
• tree canopies and roots protect the soil from erosion 
• trees slow down stormwater movement and clean the water

6) Trees Improve Social Interactions

• planting trees as a community engages residents
• more trees encourage time outside and this increases social ties with neighbors
• natural settings remedy mental fatigue and restore the mind's ability to focus

Trees are important to our environment for so many reasons. The reasons listed here are only a few motives to think about before you remove or add trees to your property. The more trees in your neighborhood or yard can help both the humans that live within the community and the creatures that live there too. 

NEW SIGNS Labeling Watersheds in the City 

Some of you may have noticed new, blue basin signs going up around the City. These signs are being placed along streets, in city parks, and eventually along the Greeneway Trail.  They are being added to let you know which watershed basin you are in.

You may be wondering, " What is a watershed?" A watershed is an area of land where all the water, whether ground water, rain water, or surface water all drain and flow to a common low area in the landscape like a stream, river, pond, or other feature like a wetland. In North Augusta , we have 18 different smaller watersheds (also called basins or sub-basins), that are within the limits of the our city. When you put all 18 watersheds together, they make up a piece of a larger watershed called the Lower Savannah River Watershed. If you look at the watershed at the entire state level, it is simply called the Savannah River Watershed (all water flowing into the Savannah River from the top of the state all the way to the ocean from both Georgia and South Carolina).  All rain and other precipitation that falls in North Augusta, will flow through one of our basins, and eventually makes it to the Savannah River and then into the Atlantic Ocean.  In order to know your watershed basin, the City is providing the signs.  If you read about water issues in the community, you will know if your neighborhood is part of that discussion.

Over the next few years, we will be labeling these basins to help you know which basin you are in as you drive or walk through the City. In 2020 we placed 9 signs, and in 2021 we will be adding 10 more.  Be on the look out for more watershed basin signs all through the City.  The basins and approximate locations of the signs are in the map below.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the watershed you live in, contact the Stormwater Management Department.  As always we are all in this together, you can help us keep our natural water resources and North Augusta free of stormwater pollution, one watershed at a time!   Thank you! 

Pet Waste Pollution

Did you know the average dog produces 275 lbs. of waste a year!? 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, each dog produces about this much waste yearly. Dog waste can be harmful to communities in a lot of ways. The primary reason people dislike dog waste is because it is unattractive. If your pet has to "go" while you are walking with it, people do not want the waste to be left on the street, in the park, or in their yard. It makes the area smelly, and no one wants to accidentally step in anything left on ground. Dog waste carries bacteria and parasites that are harmful to other dogs and humans (worms, parvo, salmonella, and E.coli. to name a few). Also, when pet owners leave waste on the ground, rains can wash it into streams and creeks through the city storm drains that dump into the Savannah River.  Extremely important fact to know; stormwater is not cleaned by a wastewater treatment plant before it goes straight into the Savannah River.  So the poo goes in the river too!

One study shows that a small population of only 100 dogs can produce enough bacteria in 2 or 3 days to temporarily close a swimming area and all watershed areas within 20 miles to swimming and shell fishing in coastal areas. Think about how many pets you see being walked in our city.. its probably more than 100 per day on our Greeneway Trails, parks and walkways.  Because of health risks and unattractiveness of pet waste left on the ground, it is important for pet owners to pick up after their pets, no matter where they are. 

It is easy to be a responsible pet owner by following these 4 helpful hints. 

1) Be a good example to other pet owners and scoop the poop. We provide trash containers in all city parks and along the NA Greeneway.

2) Always carry a disposable bag to pick up after you pet. You may even like to carry an extra one for someone on your route that may have forgotten theirs. 

3) Spread the message and talk to other dog owners about picking up after their pets. 

4) Leash your pets near wetlands and sensitive waterways, so they cannot wonder into the water (especially since we have alligators about). 

Usually, friendly pups add a smile to people's faces. That soon turns to frustration when an unsuspecting resident steps in something smelly in their favorite outdoor space. By scooping up the poop, you are helping to keep our community free from pollution and keeping the Savannah River clean.

Thank you for helping us keep the City clean!

Be on the look out to take our Scoop the Poop Pledge when our Canines for Clean Water Campaign kicks off in April 2021 at Kid's Earth Day in Brick Pond Park. It is on April 23rd from 9:30am to 12:30pm. See you there! 

Household Hazardous Waste 

Have you ever been cleaning out your garage or the laundry room and found something that you didn't know how to dispose of it? How do you throw away batteries safely? What do you do with chemicals you use for cleaning when you don't want them anymore? What is hazardous and what can go in the regular trash can? 

Hazardous waste is anything that has the potential to be dangerous and may cause harm to human health or possibly the environment. Words that describe hazardous wastes include flammable, toxic, corrosive, explosive, reactive, or radioactive.

Here are some items you might see in your house, your yard, or your garage that you may need an adult's permission or a parent's help to use because it could be hazardous to you or the environment. 

• adhesives, glues, and resins
• latex, oil, and spray paint
• stains, thinners, and paint strippers
• sealers and solvents
• hydrochloric and other acids
• rust preventatives and repair kits
• car or dry cell batteries
• transmission, brake, engine, or radiator fluids 
• antifreeze, kerosene, propane, and gasoline
• household or nickel/cadmium batteries
• aerosol or hair spray cans 
• computers or electronic equipment
• ammonias or bleaches
• photo chemicals and chemistry sets 
• floor, oven, and drain cleaners
• fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides 
• swimming pool chemicals 
• insecticides, weed killers, and poisons

Leftover products or unwanted materials laying around your home can contain ingredients that are considered harmful or hazardous. The companies that make these products like oils, paints, cleaning solutions, lawn and garden items, batteries, medicines, and all the items listed above contain warnings and trigger words to alert you of potential harm. 

Trigger words you will commonly see are DANGER, WARNING, TOXIC, POISON, or CAUTION. Always read labels and ask an adult before touching or using an item in your house that you do not normally get to use. When you have decided that you no longer need or want a potentially hazardous product, there are safe ways to dispose of harmful chemicals and items. 

One way to get rid of unwanted items is to participate in our Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Saturday, May 22nd from 10am to 1pm. A collection company comes to North Augusta, collects the hazardous items, and takes them back to a disposal facility to properly neutralize and store these materials to be thrown away.  We do not take medicines or explosives. 

If you have unwanted or leftover medicines, they can be taken to Parks Pharmacy's next Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 24th at 9am to 2pm. This event is specifically for medicines and prescription drugs. There is another option if you cannot make it to this event. North Augusta's Police Department at 444 East Buena Vista Ave has a drop-off box in the lobby.

You can also visit DHEC's website to look for other places to dispose of unwanted, hard to manage, hazardous items around Aiken County and South Carolina. 

Why is proper disposal important? It is important that proper disposal of hazardous wastes and medicines are taken because of the harm chemicals can cause to people and animals. If hazardous products get into our drinking water supply, the Savannah River, it can be very dangerous to people, animals, and the environment! Dumping these things down the drain or in your backyard can lead to unwanted chemicals getting into the Savannah River. Dumping chemicals down the sink will take the chemicals to a water treatment plant where they do not have the ability to filter out all types of drugs, chemicals, and micro-plastics that are in the water. Dumping chemicals in your backyard or a creek with result in these chemicals seeping into our groundwater and flowing into the Savannah River. Always follow disposal procedures on the product's label, and call your local City to find where the best disposal location is for your specific item. Help protect our waterways and keep North Augusta's water clean. 

To learn more, call the Stormwater Department at 803-442-5711 and visit these links for Poison Control Center's video or to see what the EPA says away hazardous wastes.