| Residential areas and neighborhoods can significantly impact rivers, lakes and streams due to polluted stormwater runoff. Your house or apartment complex can be a significant source of stormwater contaminants. You may be surprised at the many activities around your home that can cause water pollution.
Improper disposal of fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides can lead to the exposure of excessive nutrients can discharge into receiving waters (lakes, rivers, streams, and creeks).
Yard trimmings and clippings that are not composted and thrown down storm drains can increase organic loads to streams and can clog storm drains preventing the passage of stormwater through a curb inlet or grated drain. To find out more about composting click here.
Services or repairing your car or truck at home can result in pollution if you let motor oil or other vehicle fluids leak onto the driveway where they can be washed away by the rain, and severe water pollution can occur if these oils and fluids are dumped in a drainage ditch or storm drain.
Washing your vehicle on the driveway or street allows a perfect opportunity for the soapy water and other cleaning chemicals to make their way down the street into a storm drain and the nearest stream.
Household hazardous materials are used commonly to clean areas in the interior or exterior. If you want to reduce the risk of household hazardous products entering streams and creeks, click here.
Did you know that pet waste contributes to water pollution? For more info, click here.
Maintaining your vehicle can take place at home or in a service facility. To learn more about limiting the risk of pollutants from auto maintenance activities, click here.
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