You can support stormwater management projects in your city that both benefit the environment and bring value to the community. Local schools, parks, and public and private institutions can do a lot to reduce the impact from rainfall on rivers, lakes, and streams: Rain gardens and bioretention areas absorb rain before it runs into the street. Green roofs help keep water from running off buildings. Replacing walkways with pavement that is permeable allows water to soak into the ground. Whether you're enjoying a park or at the waterfront, do your part! Put litter in trash cans, and never dump liquids down storm drains. We can all be stormwater smart! BE STORMWATER SMART* Take Steps to Protect Our Waterways ^ f t t Z r - / / t /¦ t \ t h ------- If you've been thinking about reducing your environmental footprint, you can take steps to decrease the amount of pollution that flows into local waterways every time it rains. Known as stormwater, once rain or snow hits the ground, it can pick up dirt, chemicals, and other pollutants and carry them downstream from your sidewalks, streets, and alleys to bodies of water in your community. Rain is great for growing things in the city, but excess rain can run off from roofs, pavement, and other hard surfaces into the street, where it flows from the storm drain into locai rivers, lakes, or streams, taking pollution from those surfaces with it. Here are just a few steps you can take to be stormwater smart, starting in your own neighborhood: If you park your car on the street, check for spots underneath it, which could be a sign of leaky oil or other fluids that can contaminate stormwater as it washes by. Don't let your leak pollute. Street sweeping is an important part of stormwater management; during posted sweeping hours, don't park your car on the street. Keep garbage cans covered to keep trash from blowing and avoid rainwater getting contaminated by your trash. Never dump garbage in alleys or gutters. Read the label to dispose of household chemicals and paints properly, and never dump them in the alley, on the sidewalk, or in the street. Keep raked leaves or yard clippings out of the storm drain to avoid clogs and debris that can reach waterways. Don't hose down sidewalks; that will flush dirt down through the storm drain system! During colder weather, avoid oversaving the sidewalk or use "green" deicera little goes a long way! Always pick up after your dog by putting waste in a bag and disposing it in an appropriate waste container, rather than dropping it in the storm drain. Never drop cigarette butts on the ground; put out cigarettes and drop the butts in a proper receptacle or trash can. Always put trash in its place and keep it away from storm drains. On the Sidewalk DID YOU KNOW? Everything you put on the ground can possibly contaminate local water bodies and affect public health. ------- |