Stormwater Smart
- Follow directions on pesticides and fertilizers, (measure, do not estimate amounts) and do not use if rain is predicted within 48 hours.
- Water your lawn and garden by hand to control the amount of water you use.
- Set irrigation systems to reflect seasonal water needs. If water flows off your yard and onto your driveway or sidewalk, your system is over-watering.
- Mulch grass clippings or leave them on the lawn. If necessary, dispose in a green waste container.
- Prevent urban runoff by taking your car to a commercial car wash whenever possible.
- When cleaning around the house choose soaps, cleaners, or detergents labeled “non-toxic,” “phosphate free” or “biodegradable.”
- When cleaning your car, shake floor mats into a trash can or vacuum to clean.
- Take your vehicle to a commercial carwash where the washwater is recycled and sent to the sanitation district.
- Use a nozzle to turn off water when not actively washing down your car.
- Monitor vehicles for leaks and place pans under leaks. Keep your car well maintained to stop and prevent leaks.
- Use cat litter or other absorbents and sweep to remove liquids left by vehicles or any other kind of outdoor “wet spill.”
- Perform automobile repair and maintenance under a covered area and use drip pans or plastic sheeting to keep spills and waste material from reaching storm drains.
- Never pour oil or antifreeze in the street, gutter or storm drains. Recycle these substances at a service station or used oil recycling center.
- Store household hazardous waste (HHW) in closed, labeled containers inside or under a cover and dispose of them at an HHW collection center.
- Do not hose down your driveway, sidewalk or patio. Sweep up debris and dispose of it in the trash.
- Always pick up after your pet. Flush waste down the toilet or dispose of it in the trash.
- Bathe pets indoors or have them professionally groomed.
Stormwater 101
Our every day activities can impact water quality in our creeks, rivers, bays and the Pacific Ocean. Though stormwater and urban runoff pollution comes from many sources, there are several ways that you can lessen or eliminate adding to that impact. Here are a few simple tips for activities you do around your home that can positively impact the environment:
Take care of your car
- Motor oil from leaks and brakedust from your wheels are common pollutants found in Orange County waterways.
- What to do – maintain your car to prevent oil or other fluids from leaking. Take your car to a commercial carwash where the pollutants are captured and the washwater is often recycled.
Pick up after your pets
- Pet waste left on sidewalks or parkways wash into our storm drains and straight to our waterways when it rains.
- What to do – Take a bag with you on your walks to pick up after your pet. Dispose of the waste in the trash.
Don’t overwater your lawn
- Usually after your sprinklers have been on for five minutes, your lawn becomes saturated and water begins running off into the street. Not only is this a waste of water, but it washes pollutants from the street into the storm drains.
- What to do – Use timers to set your sprinklers for no more than five minutes or use a drip irrigation system. Don’t water before, during, or right after it rains. Hand-water with a hose using an automatic shut-off nozzle to limit water use.
Following these tips gets you started on becoming a “Watershed Wizard.”
What Happens to Stormwater Runoff?
Click here to continue this short Stormwater 101 tutorial. At the end there is a Stormwater IQ test and you can earn a “Watershed Wizard” certificate!
