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How can residents protect
storm drain water?
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Service you car regularly.
Regular service will prevent oils and other fluids from leaking onto the pavement so they don't wash into the drains. Recycle motor oil and antifreeze at local service stations.
Choose water-based paints and ...
Wash brushes in your sink with water. Reuse and recycle paint thinner, which is a hazardous material. Do not pour it down your drain or into a storm drain.
Minimize the use of toxic substances.
Toxic substances include mothballs, drain and over cleaners, insect sprays and many other products. Substitute with products that use natural ingredients whenever possible.
Put dog waste in the the toilet or ...
A trash can. Do not put it in the street or down a storm drain. Dog waste introduces disease-causing bacteria into our water supply.
Keep litter off the streets.
Put trash in trash cans and clean up litter so it doesn't wash into storm drains and end up in our streams and rivers.
Bag or compost leaves and ...
Other yard waste. Don't allow leaves to collect in the street.....Or...
Rake it!
Never rake leaves into or near storm drains, ditches, creeks or the river. Decaying leaves use up the water's oxygen, harming aquatic inhabitants.
Leave it!
Mulch leaves by running over them with your lawn mower at next cutting. Leaves and grass clipping are the best fertilizer for your lawn.
Rake it and leave it!
Rake leaves into a compost pile for a nutrient-rich fertilizer to use on your garden next spring.