It is a well-established fact that "nonpoint source pollution" (NPS), water pollution that cannot be traced to a specific point of origin, is the most significant source of pollution in our water resources nationwide. Potential sources are fertilizers and pesticides from farms and gardens, failing septic tanks, urban runoff, construction, trash, and animal feces. When it rains, water that is not absorbed into the soil washes the land surface. As water runs over the land, it picks up natural or human-made pollutants, and deposits them in surface waters or groundwater. This adds up to a big messy problem affecting our water resources.

All of the pollutant indicators, such as suspended solids, nutrients, heavy metals, coliform bacteria and biochemical oxygen demand are carried in excess in stormwater runoff entering Florida's waters. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection reports that more than half of the pollutant loading that enters Florida's surface waters and more than 75 percent of the pollutants in Florida's lakes are attributable to nonpoint source runoff. In recent years, pollution to local waterways has become an increasing problem for Leon and the surrounding counties. What is less recognized is how much the everyday actions of each person at home, at work or at play, contribute unknowingly to the problem. In an effort to raise awareness of these "pointless personal pollutions," City of Tallahassee Stormwater Management Division, funded through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and administered through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, has embarked on the Think About Personal Pollution (TAPP) campaign.

Behavior
Turn on the TAPP! Think about Personal Pollution and what each of us can do to reduce harmful effects on our lakes, streams and drinking water. Most people are unaware of their everyday behaviors that harm our water. The preservation and protection of local waters such as Lakes Jackson, Lafayette, Iamonia, Munson, and Miccosukee, Wakulla Springs, and the Ochlockonee and St. Marks Rivers can depend on small changes people make in their daily habits. Government investment in cleanup projects is costly and can meet only part of the challenge of restoring water quality.

Solution
The goal of the TAPP campaign is to encourage people to Think About Personal Pollution. This campaign is designed to help address pointless personal pollution by educating people about simple changes in their daily behaviors that can help improve water quality.

The scope of this program includes a multi-pronged media "blitz" intended to heighten citizen awareness of the connectivity between individual actions and the cleanliness of the water on which they depend for health and recreation. Simple, easy-to-understand methods help citizens reduce our personal pollution impact easily and inexpensively. The TAPP Guide to a Water-Friendly Yard and other informational materials are available as well as an informative web site, www.TAPPWATER.org. Ads are broadcast over a variety of radio stations with messages leading audiences to the campaign web site for information.

The video campaign has been professionally produced with images meant to instill an excitement to do one's part to maintain local water quality through simple practices intended to reduce nonpoint source pollution. All of the audio and video messages run often enough that they are recognizable and enticing insertions within the media programming. This level of saturation would not be possible without the willing cooperation of the cable, radio and television stations as collaborating partners.

A public outreach program offers informational seminars to neighborhood, community and business organizations. These organizations will be instrumental in sponsoring seminars and workshops to inform and educate citizens concerning easy changes that they can incorporate into their home and landscape practices.

TAPP Benefits
North Florida's unique water systems are very close to the land surface and susceptible to contamination from runoff in rain events and failing septic systems. Having clean water is of primary importance for public health and the economy. Educating the community with pollution-prevention tactics is the best way to preserve water quality and the beauty of the landscape. Through the efforts of TAPP, public awareness will be heightened concerning the importance of individual actions in keeping our water as clean as possible.