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1. Stormwater runoff is natural and harmless because it consists of just rainwater.
FALSE
Indeed, rainfall is natural and harmless. The pollution, however, that contaminates rainfall as it becomes stormwater runoff is not harmless. Runoff traveling over hard surfaces like streets, parking lots and roofs picks up pollutants that end up contaminating waterways such as rivers and streams.
2. Urban stormwater discharges cause no significant harm to our lakes, rivers and oceans.
FALSE
Urban stormwater is one of the most significant sources of pollution in our nation's waterways.
3. Industrial sources pose a much greater pollution threat than urban stormwater discharge.
FALSE
Stormwater runoff equals or exceeds discharges from factories and sewage plants as a major source of water pollution throughout the United States. Some of the contaminants commonly found in stormwater runoff include heavy metals, such as copper, zinc and lead, as well as oxygen-robbing substances, such as phosphorus and nitrogen.
4. No real solutions exist to solve stormwater pollution issues.
FALSE
Humans create urban stormwater pollution, and humans can prevent it through dedicated pollution prevention and control practices. Many local, state and county governments have already instituted stormwater runoff permitting programs in large population centers, which require permits before stormwater may be discharged into lakes, rivers and other waterways.
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