Which of the following are signs of stormwater pollution? A) Cloudy water B) Algae blooms C) Fish kills D) Oily sheen E) Foul odors F) All of the above

Answer: F) All of the above. Stormwater will pick up sediment, litter, grass clipping, and other yard waste and deposit it in local streams causing turbid or cloudy water. Stormwater will also pick up excess fertilizer and pesticides from the lawn. The phosphates create algae blooms that block sunlight and rob the water of oxygen resulting in fish kills. 

An oily sheen on the water’s surface can be caused by illegal dumping of used oil and other automotive fluids down the storm drains. Rotting leaves, grass clippings and other yard waste deposited in the streams by the stormwater runoff creates foul odors as it decomposes.

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1. Urban areas can absorb as much rainfall as a wooded area or grassy field. True or false?
2. Storm drains and the stormwater sewer system carries stormwater runoff to the local wastewater treatment facility for treatment before it is discharged to local lakes and waterways. True or false?
3. Which of the following are signs of stormwater pollution? A) Cloudy water B) Algae blooms C) Fish kills D) Oily sheen E) Foul odors F) All of the above
4. Which of the following are part of the storm drain system? A) Streams, lakes and ponds B) Ditches and culverts C) Yards, streets, curbs and gutters D) Storm drains and catch basins E) All of the above
5. The stormwater runoff from your backyard flows to which of the following water bodies? A) Coon Creek B) Elk Fork of the Salt River C) Sweet Springs Creek D) Sugar Creek, Sugar Lake