Litter Control Must Be First Step in Green Stormwater Infrastructure

This photo of creek trash in Cheltenham’s Rock Creek, a small tributary to the Tookany – Tacony Creek, shows why we need to do a better job controlling street litter.

Photo by Kelly O'Day

This photo was taken on 12/28/13 along Rock Creek, just downstream of Ogontz Ave (Route 309). The structure in the upper left of the photo is the conduit under Ogontz Ave. Philadelphia’s T-01 combined sewer outfall discharges into this conduit.

The plastic bags and other creek trash litter is from Philadelphia street litter and Cheltenham shopping parking lot litter carried to Rock Creek by stormwater runoff through storm sewers and by overland flow.

You can see a dynamic photo survey of Rock Creek at this link.

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