Stormwater : Residents : Test your Stormwater IQ

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.

Test your Stormwater IQ

How much do you know? Find out by completing the following quiz.

1. In Orange County the storm drain system and the sewer system are part of the same underground system.

Incorrect. The storm drain system is separate from the sewer system. Stormwater runoff flows untreated, directly to channels, creeks, bays, and ultimately the ocean and beaches.”

Correct. The storm drain system is separate from the sewer system. Stormwater runoff flows untreated, directly to channels, creeks, bays, and ultimately the ocean and beaches

2. The water and other substances that flow through the storm drain system are tested and filtered to remove wastes before they are discharged from the system.

Incorrect. The storm drain system releases untreated water into channels, creeks, bays, and ultimately the ocean and beaches

Correct. The storm drain system releases untreated water into channels, creeks, bays, and ultimately the ocean and beaches

3. With few exceptions, it is illegal for anyone to throw, dispose of or allow anything other than rainwater into the storm drains.

Correct. Most discharges to a municipal storm drain that are not composed entirely of stormwater are illegal

Incorrect. Most discharges to a municipal storm drain that are not composed entirely of stormwater are illegal

4. Stormwater pollution can be caused by:

Incorrect. Local Businesses (or “Pets” or “People like you and me”) can contribute to, but is not the only source of water pollution.

Correct. Anything we use in our home, car, and business like motor oil, paint, pesticides, fertilizers and cleaners can wind up in the street. A little water from rain or a garden hose can carry automotive and household materials through the storm drain polluting bay, wetlands and the ocean

5. To dispose of toxic or poisonous products, and their containers, you should:

Incorrect. Flushing toxics or poisonous products down the toilet or sanitary sewer is not only damaging to the sewer system but illegal. For more information on proper disposal contact the O.C. Household Hazardous Waste Center Information Hotline at (714) 834-6752 or www.oc.ca.gov/IWMD.

Correct. For more information contact the O.C. Household Hazardous Waste Center Information Hotline at (714) 834-6752 or www.oc.ca.gov/IWMD.”

Incorrect. Disposing of toxic or poisonous products into the storm drain is illegal and harmful to the aquatic environment. For more information on proper disposal contact the O.C. Household Hazardous Waste Center Information Hotline at (714) 834-6752 or www.oc.ca.gov/IWMD.”

6.Putting used motor oil in the trash or pouring it down the storm drain:

Incorrect. Did you know that one pint of motor oil can produce an oil slick of approximately one acre? Used motor oil can be recycled and should NEVER be put in the trash or poured down the storm drain. It is very harmful to our environment.

Correct. Used motor oil should be recycled. For additional information about the nearest oil recycling centers contact the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) at 1-800-553-2962 or www.ciwmb.ca.gov/usedoil

7. When you wash your car at home you should:

Incorrect. Since the rinse or washwater contains residues from exhaust fumes, gasoline and motor oils, you should always try to use less toxic alternatives and biodegradable soaps. Additional cleaners should be applied and then wiped off with a rag or towel, not rinsed off

Correct. This allows the washwater to filter through vegetation and/or soil instead of flowing directly into a storm drain

Incorrect. You should only degrease or clean your engine at authorized facilities equipped to properly process the contaminated washwater

8. When you use pesticides or fertilizers in your home and garden you should:

Correct. Pesticides and fertilizers are chemicals that not only kill garden invaders, they can also harm useful insects, poison fish and contaminate ground water and the ocean

Incorrect. You should probably take them to a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Site for proper disposal. For more information contact the O.C. Household Hazardous Waste Center Information Hotline at (714) 834-6752 or www.oc.ca.gov/IWMD.

Incorrect. You should always try to conserve water by not overwatering, which allows pesticide and fertilizer runoff to be washed into storm drains and waterways. You should also not apply pesticides if it is windy or about to rain.

9. When performing home repairs or remodeling work you should:

Incorrect. Vehicles and tools should be cleaned in an appropriate area and not in the gutter. Dirt can be rinsed off in a vegetated area and cement can be rinsed off, allowed to dry and disposed of with your household trash

Correct. Properly stored materials are protected from rainfall, runoff, and wind, which help keep them out of gutters and storm drains

Incorrect. Latex paint can be cleaned in a kitchen sink and oil-based paint needs to be cleaned and disposed of at a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Site. For more information contact the O.C. Household Hazardous Waste Center Information Hotline at (714) 834-6752 or www.oc.ca.gov/IWMD.

10. When you see a water pollution problem you should:

When reporting non-emergency water pollution problems you can either contact the County’s Water Pollution Problem Reporting Hotline at 714-567-6363 or log onto the County’s website at www.ocwatersheds.com and fill out a Reporting an Incident form. When reporting emergency water pollution problems immediately call 911

Please take a few moments to provide us with some basic demographic information. The information we are collecting is for information purposes only and will be utilized to help us determine where additional Stormwater public education efforts may be focused.

11. Gender:

12. Age range: