What can I do at home to reduce stormwater pollution?
  • Consider replacing impervious surfaces like sidewalks, decks, and driveways around your home with more previous materials or methods like mulch, turf block, pervious concrete or clean stone.
  • If gutters, downspouts, driveways, or decks directly discharge into a waterbody, retrofit them by redirecting the runoff onto grassy areas or installing berm/swale systems.
  • Make sure your automobile isn’t leaking fluids.
  • Instead of washing your car at home, take it to a commercial car wash. The drains in commercial car washes are connected to the sanitary sewer system, so rinse water doesn’t wash down storm drains. Many commercial car washes conserve water by recycling rinse water.
  • Practice natural lawn care to reduce the use of hazardous products while saving time, water, money, and helping to preserve the environment.
  • Instead of cleaning walkways with a hose, sweep up grass clippings, leaves, twigs and put them into a yard waste container or compost pile. Sweep up dirt and put it back into the garden. This way you won’t accidentally wash debris into a storm drain or waterway, and you’ll save water.
  • Choose plants and trees that resist pests and disease so less pesticides are needed. Nurseries can help you in making choices.
  • Avoid using weed and feed products. Applying this product to your entire lawn is overkill for weed control. Pull weeds by hand or with tools. If you decide to use a weed killer, wear gloves, spot spray just the weed, and spray when it isn’t windy or when rain isn’t predicted. Never use pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides near streams, lakes or wetlands.
  • Avoid using Diazinon. This pesticide has been found in our streams. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is phasing it out because of the potential health risk to children.
  • Collect stormwater runoff in closed rain barrels and use it for yard and garden watering.
  • Retain shrubby vegetation along waterfronts to prevent erosion and help stop heavy rain sheet flow.

Show All Answers

1. Why should I be concerned about polluted streams?
2. How can I support clean water efforts?
3. How can I protect my watershed?
4. What can I do at home to reduce stormwater pollution?
5. What is the difference between ground water and stormwater runoff?
6. How is water from a sanitary sewer system different from stormwater runoff or from a storm drain?
7. Who can I contact for information?
8. Who should I call to report a source of pollution or drainage problem?
9. Is there a list of recycling centers in Jefferson County?
10. How does stormwater runoff become polluted?
11. Is stormwater runoff treated at a waste water facility?
12. What is an Illicit Discharge?