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.
Sewer vs Storm Drain
Storm Drains are NOT Sewers.
The sewer system takes all the water from INSIDE homes and businesses (sinks, bathtubs, washing machines, toilets, etc.) and sends it to a water treatment facility where the water is cleaned before being released to the ocean.
The storm drain system takes all the water from OUTSIDE homes and businesses (rain, overwatering of lawns) and sends it untreated straight to our local creeks, rivers, bays and eventually the ocean.
The storm drain system is designed as a flood control system to allow water from heavy rainstorms to flow quickly to our waterways to avoid flooding of our streets, homes and businesses. However, the rainwater can pick up pollutants as large as shopping carts or as microscopic as pesticides and fertilizer and flush it all into our waterways damaging the fish, plants and other living things in our ecosystem.
Because stormwater runoff is untreated it is extremely important we don’t allow pollutants to flow into our waterways.
Particular pollutants of concern include:
Litter (recycle or throw away your trash).
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Motor Oil (if you change your oil at home, take it to an auto repair shop to recycle it).
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Copper from Brakedust (use a commercial car wash where the washwater is recycled).
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Pet waste (pick up after your pets when you take them for walks).
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Fertilizer (Don’t apply fertilizer right before it rains. Don’t use more fertilizer than is required).
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Pesticides (Don’t apply pesticide right before it rains. Don’t use more pesticide than is required).
Sewer vs. Storm Drain
Curiosity Quest investigates the difference between a Storm Drain and a Sewer System.
