Earth Day began 51 years ago on April 22, 1970, as a movement to honor earth and bring awareness to the importance of protecting its precious resources. Since then, Earth Day has been expanded and stimulated by the efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Clean Water Act, both of which advocate the importance of unified efforts for a cleaner Earth.
There are numerous everyday actions we can take to protect Earth. Over the past several weeks, our blog posts have discussed such things as using less water, conserving electricity, recycling, reducing single-use plastics, managing waste wisely, and planting a tree. All of these efforts are certainly important.
The theme for Earth Day 2024 is “Planet vs. Plastics. Plastic pollution has become a significant issue worldwide, with plastic waste contaminating oceans, harming marine life, and even entering the food chain. Overall, the battle between the planet’s survival and plastics represents the ongoing efforts to mitigate the environmental impact of plastic pollution.
At KCI we focus specifically on minimizing stormwater runoff which is considered one of the most damaging sources of pollution today. Florida’s population growth is on a dramatic upward trajectory that will require over seven million additional acres of the state to be developed by 2060. This dramatic increase in land development will undoubtedly drive economic and industry innovation, and this will also diminish green space for plants and wildlife.
The active construction required to develop such large areas of land will also generate a tremendous increase in soil erosion, sedimentation, excess nutrients, and chemical pollutants into our waterways. Stormwater picks up debris, chemicals, and other hazardous substance that eventually flow into our waterways. This process is called nonpoint source pollution. The EPA reports that stormwater nonpoint source pollution is the leading cause of water quality problems today.
To address this pressing issue, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program was created in 1972 by the Clean Water Act. The NPDES program addresses water quality issues by regulating point and nonpoint sources that discharge pollutants to waters of the United States.
KCI’s services are centered around the NPDES program and focuses on reducing stormwater pollutants for industrial organizations, land developers, and contractors, which need assistance tackling tough environmental issues.
Earth is a precious resource that we must all cherish and protect. Change begins with taking action. We should perform simple everyday actions that positively impact the world around us. Every small step counts towards creating a better future. Prepare to celebrate Earth Day next Monday April 22nd, by beginning something new to protect our climate. Let’s all do our part to make a difference!
KCI can implement, monitor, and manage cost saving environmental best management practices to prevent hazardous conditions from stormwater exposure. Let us do our small part together in saving our wonderful planet Earth. Ask us to help you with your stormwater compliance needs! Call us today on 888-346-7779.
