Easy Ways to Reduce Water Pollution
Even if you don't own waterfront property, the things you do to your home and yard directly impact the quality of our rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands. The stormwater that passes over your yard, driveway, and sidewalk travels directly from your property to the nearest body of water (river, lake, stream or wetland). The runoff entering the nearest storm drain is not treated ("cleaned") before entering our rivers, lakes, streams or wetlands.
Listed below are Best Management Practices for your lawn and garden.
- Sweep up yard chemicals that spill onto hard surfaces.
- Clean up pet waste and dispose of it in the trash. Pet waste contains nutrients as well as harmful bacteria.
- Sweep grass clippings off the street, driveway, or sidewalk after moving. Grass clippings can add phosphorus to our waters.
- Remove leaves and other plant debris from the street.
- Don't pour any waste down the storm drain.
- Wash your car on the lawn or take it to a commercial car wash. Waste water at a commercial car wash is treated through the sanitary sewer system.
- Plant a rain garden
- Allow stormwater and melting snow to soak into your yard as much as possible.
- Direct your downspout to you lawn or into a rain barrel for watering at a later date.
- Avoid directing runoff onto hard, impervious surfaces such as the driveway or sidewalk.
