Avoiding Stormwater Pollution

Who causes water pollution? People like you and me! You see, when rain or water from garden hoses and sprinklers flows over our streets and yards, it carries pollutants into the storm drains; pollutants like motor oil, pesticides, paints, grass clippings, and pet waste. In most places, whatever goes down a storm drain flows directly - without treatment - into local creeks, streams, and rivers, and eventually to the ocean, threatening water quality for humans and wildlife. Here's the good news - you are the solution to water pollution! Here are some things you can do to make a difference:

Used motor oil and oil filters

Did you know that each year over 180 million gallons of motor oil are disposed of illegally by people who change the oil in their trucks and cars?

Never put motor oil in the trash or pour it on the ground, or down a storm drain. Recycle it instead! Many auto service stores accept used motor oil. Many waste haulers offer curbside collection of used motor oil.

Find where to dispose of oil and oil filters in your area?

Learn how to properly dispose of pesticides

Did you know that pesticides that wash off our yards from rain or overwatering are toxic to the environment?

Testing has shown that even small amounts of commonly used pesticides may be lethal to living creatures. So try non-toxic alternatives for pest control. Take unwanted or unused pesticides to a household hazardous waste collection center. Never throw pesticides in the trash or into a storm drain. To find the nearest household hazardous waste collection facility in your area, please visit our household hazardous waste locator section.

Find where to dispose of pesticides in your area.

Properly dispose of fertilizers

Did you know that fertilizers can harm our environment?

Fertilizers promote algae growth in our waterways. When algae decomposes, the oxygen level in the water is depleted, and harming aquatic life. When using fertilizers, follow application instructions, do not overwater, and do not apply if rain is forecasted.

Find where to dispose of fertilizer in your area?

Paints and solvents

Do you know where to wash your paint brushes?

If you're using latex-water-based paints, you can wash your paint brushes directly in your kitchen or bathroom sink. Don't rinse your brushes in the street. Remember, storm drains flow directly and without treatment into local waterways. If you must use oil-based paints, clean-up properly by rinsing brushes with solvent in a container. Filter and re-use thinner and solvent. Take unusable liquid and residue to a household hazardous waste collection center. To find the nearest household hazardous waste collection facility in your area, please visit our household hazardous waste locator section.

Find where to dispose of paints and dispose of solvents in your area?

Yard and grass clippings

Yard and grass clippings can reach our local waterways by washing into storm drains. Keep green waste out of storm drains. Try grasscycling, composting, or participating in your local green waste program. Grasscycling is the practice of leaving clippings on the lawn when mowing. The clippings quickly decompose, returning nutrients to the soil. Grasscycling makes caring for your lawn easier, and will not cause thatch. You can reduce mowing time by as much as 50 percent, because you don't have to bag or dispose of clippings. Leaving clippings on the lawn also reduces the lawn's water loss and its need for fertilizer. To grasscycle, it is best to cut grass when the surface is dry (no drops of moisture on the grass), and to keep mower blades sharp. Follow the "1/3 rule": Mow the lawn often enough so that no more than 1/3 of the length of the grass blade is removed in any one mowing. Proper mowing will produce short clippings that will not cover up the grass surface. You may have to cut the lawn more frequently, or double cut, when the lawn is growing quickly.

Backyard composting is the process of allowing nature to break down your green waste. When you mix your grass clippings, weeds, trimmings and water in a bin, beneficial insects and microorganisms decompose the mixture into finished compost. You can help speed up the process by keeping the pile moist, not soaked, and periodically mix it to add air to the pile. You may have finished compost in as early as six weeks. Finished compost can be placed over the soil as mulch, or mixed into the soil as a wonderful soil amendment.

Find where to dispose of yard and grass clippings.

Learn how to properly dispose of pet waste

Pet waste contains harmful bacteria and organisms that can spread disease. Pick up pet waste, seal it in a plastic bag, and dispose of it in trash cans. Don't hose waste into storm drains. Help keep your neighborhood and your pet healthy and clean.

To find out how and where to dispose of pet waste in your community, please contact your local environmental coordinator, or check your local telephone directory for your community's sanitation or public works department.

Information Courtesy Of http://www.earth911.org