Even some of the most environmentally conscious among us can inadvertently affect the quality of our waterways and the marine and wildlife that depend on them in a negative way. Simply put, the way we live our day-to-day lives can and does impede the quality of our rivers, lakes, bays and oceans. If you drive a car, fertilize your lawn or even walk your dog, you’re contributing to society’s continued assault on the earth’s most precious resource: water.
Runoff from rainfall can deliver a wide range of roadway and parking lot pollutants, not to a treatment plant, as many might think, but directly to our streams and rivers. Even well maintained automobiles can deposit oil, grease and heavy metals onto paved surfaces—deposits that subsequently end up in our waterways.
Fertilizers and weed killers that help us maintain our beautiful lawns and gardens are carried by rainfall and irrigation runoff across sidewalks and down the gutter into a nearby catch basin. These storm drain systems, with their hidden mazes of piping, carry these pollutants directly to local creeks or streams and, eventually, to our oceans. Beach closures and tainted drinking water are two of the more obvious affects of these unintended assaults on our waterways.
To help protect our precious waterways from further damage, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, through state and local agencies, enforces the Clean Water Act (CWA). Enacted by Congress in 1972, the CWA initially targeted wastewater and drinking water, but was later amended to direct its focus toward “non-point source pollution,” including storm water runoff.
Storm water pollution control, driven by the increasing enforcement of these laws, has become widely recognized as one of the fastest growing segments of the construction industry; it demands a growing percentage of any new project’s construction cost. Contractors, developers and public agencies are now required to address storm water pollution by incorporating best management practices (BMPs) into their construction projects. These BMPs can range from simple, good housekeeping rules for business owners or contractors to the installation of high-end treatment technology in newly constructed storm drain systems.
Santa Rosa’s Kristar Enterprises introduced its first storm water filter device long before most people where aware of the need. Founded in 1993, Kristar has since become recognized across the country as a leader in the design, manufacture and maintenance of storm water treatment systems. It offers the industry’s widest range of solutions, with products ranging from “course of construction” sedimentation control devices to permanently installed “post construction” storm water treatment devices.
Starting with a simple filter device called Fossil Filters, which are used in parking lots to target oil, grease and trash, Kristar’s products have evolved to meet regulators’ developing demands. To address some of the more problematic pollutants, such as heavy metals, bacteria and ultrafine sediments, Kristar recently introduced two new media filtration systems, the FloGard Perk Filter and UpFlo Media Filter. These two new technologies now offer engineers and contractors an effective and economical way to comply with today’s more stringent regulations.
In addition to its line of storm water treatment systems, Kristar recently introduced a full line of pre-cast concrete drainage and utility structures. These new products allow Kristar to supply its customers with all of the necessary components to construct complete drainage systems.
Kristar established Drainage Protection Systems (DPS) division in 1997 to address the ongoing maintenance needs of the installed storm water filter systems, because the same laws that require the installation of storm water treatment systems require that the systems are maintained going forward. DPS offers clients comprehensive maintenance for all Kristar products, as well as all other types of treatment systems.
Planning for and providing compliant storm water management solutions can be a significant challenge for developers, property owners and others involved in land development efforts today. Kristar provides resources and practical solutions to help create a win-win scenario for most projects’ economical and environmental needs.
