Public Education Videos

 Reduce Run Off: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Botanic Garden produced this 9-minute on-line video, "Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In," that highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, green roofs and rain barrels to help manage stormwater runoff.

The film showcases green techniques that are being used in urban areas to reduce the effects of stormwater runoff on the quality of downstream receiving waters. The goal is to mimic the natural way water moves through an area before development by using design techniques that infiltrate, evaporate, and reuse runoff close to its source.

The techniques are innovative stormwater management practices that manage urban stormwater runoff at its source, and are very effective at reducing the volume of stormwater runoff and capturing harmful pollutants. Using vegetated areas that capture runoff also improves air quality, mitigates the effects of urban heat islands and reduces a community's overall carbon footprint.

The video highlights green techniques on display in 2008 at the U.S. Botanic Garden's "One Planet - Ours!" Exhibit" and at the U.S. EPA in Washington, D.C., including recently completed cisterns.

Building Green: A Success Story in Philadelphia
In 2010, EPA's Office of Water produced this 11-minute video which highlights innovative efforts by green builders in Philadelphia who are helping protect and restore environmental quality and beautify the city.

The video features the work of Philadelphia's Onion Flats LLC, a company that is designing residential buildings with the highest ratings for energy and water efficiency. By installing cisterns, green roofs, porous pavers, solar panels, and Energy Star appliances, the builders are capturing rainwater, reducing stormwater runoff, and saving energy. The exciting news is that the units are selling even in a depressed market, thanks to many of the amenities, including the attractive green roofs, reduced utility bills and proximity to public transit.

At the outset of the video, Howard Neukrug with Philadelphia's Office of Watersheds explains the importance of green stormwater infrastructure. The city is now offering incentives to builders and developers like Onion Flats to use green techniques to help meet clean water and other environmental goals.

After the Storm
This is the popular 1/2 hour television program about watersheds. It wasco-produced by the EPA and The Weather Channel (TWC). This program premiered on TWC on Feb. 24, 2004. There is an accompanying brochure (PDF) available for downloading from the EPA website. The brochureprovides tips on preventing runoff from residential and commercial properties, farms, construction sites, automotive facilities, forestry operations, and others.

RiverSmart Homes: Getting Smart About Runoffin Washington D.C.
This 12-minute video from 2010 highlights RiverSmart Homes, a program that was launched in 2006 by the District Department of the Environment as a way to combat the Washington, D.C.'s serious stormwater problems and to actively involve the community in the river's restoration.

Thanks to this unique urban waters partnership, homeowners in diverse city neighborhoods are enthusiastically adopting environmentally friendly landscaping practices to reduce the effects of stormwater runoff and help bring back the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers, as well as lesser known Rock Creek and Oxon Run. Residential properties are the single largest land use in the nation's capital, and the program actively engages the community in restoring the rivers.

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
To effectively reduce or eliminate storm water runoff pollution, there must be a means for detecting and eliminating illicit discharges into the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). The discharge of pollutants into the streets and storm drains of the City of Bartlett is a violation of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (as amended), Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) regulations and the City of Bartlett storm water ordinance. City inspectors can't be everywhere but the citizens of Bartlett are. You are in a position to aid in reducing or eliminating storm water runoff pollution by reporting it when you see it.

This short 10 minute video is intended to help you identify and report illicit discharges. It explains what an illicit discharge is, how you can detect an illicit discharge, and what you should do to report an illicit discharge if you see one. If you see or suspect an illicit discharge is taking place, contact the City of Bartlett by using the Submit a Request link on the left side of this page or contact the Storm Water Management Division office at 901-385-6499. An inspector will be assigned to investigate the complaint. Working together, you can help reduce or eliminate storm water pollution in our City.