Christiansburg residents should be receiving a mailed flyer, detailing 12 things citizens can do to prevent stormwater runoff. That's stormwater runoff pollution.
For additional information, readers are pointed to the Environmental Protection Agency, which includes a link to the federal stormwater program and to related Virginia requirements. This information is also provided on the town's website (the old one and new one, as required by law).
The flyer informs us that "When land is in a vegetated, undeveloped state, it usually has grasses, crops, brush and trees present...Conversely, when land is developed, there are often impervious surfaces installed like concrete sidewalks, asphalt roads, and building roofs. These do not allow water to soak into the ground and cause an increase in stormwater runoff."
So, does this explain why Town Council is empowered to require a certain amount of "green space" and sidewalks in new residential developments, yet has long allowed creative ways to meet minimum standards -- like narrower roads some claim provide traffic calming and no sidewalks?
What this flyer really is meant to address is state and federal minimums as regards educating the public about sources of pollution, not about planning practices that minimize urban flooding which can occur due to poor design (which might include sewage back ups into homes).
For a more detailed look at erosion and sediment control (a major source of pollution in our natural waterways), see the series of Depot Dazed blogs focusing on Virginia's Department of Conservation, which works closely with the EPA.