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Home My WebLink AboutUtilities 2010-01-26 Item 3B - Discussion - NPDES Surface Water Education SurveyCity of Tukwila To: Mayor Haggerton Utilities Committee From: Public Works Director Date: January 20, 2010 Subject: NPDES Program Project No. 93 -DR10 Surface Water Education Survey ISSUE Discuss surface water survey to be included in the January, 2010 billing. BACKGROUND The City's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II general permit requires that the City measure citizens understanding of the City's surface water system. ANALYSIS To meet this requirement, staff has targeted 1,000 residences and has prepared a 15 question survey that we are asking to be returned with their surface water payment. Approximately 10% of the 5,000 billings are set up with automatic payment, so we hope the response will be measureable. This information will be collected as part of the ongoing Public Education and Awareness Program and will be used to guide future educational programs. To convey to residents of the importance of this survey and remind them to return it, a notice will be included in the February Hazelnut. RECOMMENDATION Information only. Attachment: Surface Water Survey INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM W: \PW Eng \PROJECTS\A- DR Projects \93 -dr10 (NPDES Program) \Info Memo 2010 Survey.doc Jim Haggerton, Mayor January 20, 2010 City of Tukwila Jim Haggerton, Mayor Department of Public Works Bob Giberson, P.E., Director Under the Western Washington Stormwater Permit required by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), the City of Tukwila is required to evaluate our stormwater education program by surveying and measuring our residents understanding of practices that impact the stormwater system. You can help! Your answers to the following questions will be used to prioritize spending of public education resources. This will help in our goal to reduce pollutants carried by stormwater that can hurt the environment and wildlife. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey and mail it to the City of Tukwila in the enclosed envelope. 1. The City of Tukwila has a spill hotline for residents to report illegal dumping, illegal discharges, and oil and hazardous waste spills, (206) 433 -1860. Did you know how to report spills and illegal dumping /discharges and to whom? CIRCLE ONE: YES NO 2. The following are some possible causes of pollution in local waters. Please indicate if you believe that it is: 1) a significant source of water pollution in Tukwila; 2) it may contribute some small amount of pollution; or, 3) probably is not a significant source of water pollution in Tukwila. INDICATE NUMBER NEXT TO EACH ITEM Run off from lawns and landscape, including animal waste and fertilizer Run off from roads and parking lots 3. Water from neighborhoods and residences that run off streets, yards, and rooftops goes into a storm system of pipes, ditches, ponds, or storage vaults. To the best of your knowledge, what happens to the water after it enters the storm system? Does that water: CIRCLE ONE: Go into the nearest body of water with treatment Go into the nearest body of water without treatment Go to a sewer treatment plant 4. The following is a list of things that can get washed into the storm system and eventually into lakes, streams, and rivers. Do you believe that in Tukwila, it is: 1) a significant source of water pollution; 2) may contribute some small amount; 3) probably not a significant source of water pollution. INDICATE NUMBER NEXT TO EACH ITEM Pesticides and fertilizers from yards Oils and other fluids from vehicles Soapy water from washing cars on pavement /driveways Pet waste left on the ground Improper disposal of cleaning fluids, paint, and other household hazardous waste C:\DOCUME -1 \GREG- 1.TUK \LOCALS--1 \Temp \XPgrpwise\2010 NPDES Survey.doc 6300 Southcenter Boulevard, Suite #100 Tukwila, Washington 98188 Phone: 206 433 -0179 Fax: 206 431 -3665 January 20, 2010 Stormwater Survey, page 2 5. Of the list of products below that some people use on lawns and gardens, how much of each is used on your yard during a typical growing season. Would you say that, on your yard, 1) it is used a lot; 2) a medium amount; 3) very little; or 4) never used on your yard. INDICATE NUMBER NEXT TO EACH ITEM Chemical fertilizers Pesticides such as insecticides or fungicides Weed Feed or other weed killer Organic or slow release fertilizers Watering 6. When you clean places like your driveway, walkways, or deck, do you typically? CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY Sweep those areas Use a blower Hose areas down Pressure wash areas Use water with soap or another cleanser 7. If you own a dog and go for walks, how is the dog waste dealt with? CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY Picked up every time Picked up most of the time Left on the ground most of the time Always left on the ground Not applicable 8. If the dog waste is picked up, how is it typically disposed of? CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY Bagged and put in the trash Put in compost or yard waste collection Flushed down the toilet Tossed somewhere else Never picked up Not applicable C:I DOCUME- 11GREG- 1. TUKILOCALS- 11Temp\XPgrpwise12010 NPDES Survey.doc January 20, 2010 Stormwater Survey, page 3 9. At which of the following have you washed your vehicle or had it washed most often in the past year? CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY Home A car wash or commercial coin operated car wash A charity car wash, such as a school or other fundraiser Haven't washed in past year Don't have any vehicles 10. If you wash your vehicles at home, where does the wash water drain to? CIRCLE ONE Down the street Onto gravel, dirt, or grass Yard catch basin Don't know 11. When it comes to changing the motor oil, anti freeze, and other fluids in the vehicles in your household, do you or someone else? CIRCLE ONE Always change it at home Always take vehicles to a shop Some combination of the above 12. If the motor oil or antifreeze is changed at home, what is typically done with the used fluids? CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY Placed in the trash Poured down the drain inside the house Poured down a drain or ditch outside or in the street Poured on the ground Kept around the house /garage Taken to a collection facility /gas station /shop Used at home on fences or as lubricant Do not change oil or anti freeze at home C:IDOCUME -11 GREG- 1. TUKILOCALS- 11Temp\XPgrpwise12010 NPDES Survey.doc January 20, 2010 Stormwater Survey, page 4 13. If one of your vehicles leaked or spilled oil or antifreeze onto the pavement, which of the following would you be most likely to do? CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY Hose it off Soak it up with an absorbent pad or other absorbent material Probably not do anything 14. Which of the following best describes your attitude toward making changes to help prevent water pollution: Are you: CIRCLE ONE Willing to make changes in your lifestyle, even if it involves sacrifices Willing to make changes, if the changes are fairly easy Convinced that there is not more you can do to make a difference 15. Of the following reasons that some people give for wanting to reduce water pollution, how important is it for you personally? Using a scale from 0 to 10, with "10" meaning "extremely important" and "0" meaning "not important at all INDICATE NUMBER NEXT TO EACH ITEM Protecting fish and wildlife Protecting drinking water and food sources Maintaining the environment for future generations Keeping the waters clean for recreation Thank you for taking the time to fill out this survey. We would appreciate it if you would mail the survey back to the City of Tukwila in the enclosed envelope. C:IDOCUME -11 GREG -1.TUK \LOCALS 11Temp1XPgrpwise12010 NPDES Survey.doc