Citizen Role in Stormwater Management

There are several things citizens can do to prevent storm water pollution.

Household Hazardous Waste

• Never dump anything down a storm drain. All storm drains flow directly to creeks and lakes.
• Take used oil, paint and other household hazardous waste to recycling centers
• Check your car for oil or other leaks

Animal Waste

• Pick up after your pets. Dispose of animal waste properly in a trash receptacle or flush it down the toilet.

Lawn Care

• Apply fertilizers and pesticides exactly where you want them. Avoid over spraying them onto sidewalks, driveways or streets.
• Reduce the amount of fertilizers you need to apply by testing the soil in your yard first

Reducing Runoff

• Adjust sprinklers so that you're not watering the street or sidewalk
• Redirect roof gutters to lawns, natural areas or rain gardens
• Talk you car to a car wash instead of washing it on the driveway

Pool Water

• Pool water must be dechlorinated before discharging.
• The federal Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of pollutants to waters. Even seemingly small concentrations of chlorine can harm aquatic life. Chlorine can be very toxic to fish, small crustaceans, and plankton. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency acknowledges that at 1 milligram per liter or less chlorine has a high acute toxicity to aquatic organisms.
• It is against federal law to discharge chlorinated water without first reducing chlorine to acceptable levels (less than 0.1 milligram per liter).

Consider the following options for removing chlorine:

• Simply stop adding chlorine to your uncovered pool and wait. Sunlight will help to naturally dissipate the chlorine within 10 days. During that time, use a swimming pool test kit to measure chlorine.
• Chemically dechlorinate the pool water. Chemicals that will quickly remove chlorine are available through pool and spa care vendors.

Yard Waste

• Sweep up yard debris instead of washing it away
• Bundle yard waste at the curb for pickup
• Blow leaves and grass clippings back into your yard instead of leaving them in the street to wash down the storm drain
• Use a compost bin to turn yard waste into a useful gardening product

Planting

• Replant bare areas to avoid soil erosion
• Keep invasive plants from growing in your yard. Remove them before they have a chance t grow and spread.
• Avoid planting exotic plants. Select only plants that are native to this area.

Volunteer

• Report spills, dumping or suspected water pollution to the Village
• Clear clogged storm drains. Blocked drains cause drainage problems.
• Participate in community-wide clean up days and other events
• Alert neighbors to the storm water pollution problem

Your Septic System

Overflowing septic systems can result in pathogen pollution:

• Have your septic system inspected at least every 3 years by a professional
• Have your tank pumped as recommended by the inspector (generally every 3 to 5 years)
• Overflowing septic systems can pollute our waterways. The following should be taken to the Town ST.O.P collection sites and not flushed: 
  • Antifreeze
  • Gasoline
  • Household Chemicals
  • Oil
  • Paint
  • Pesticides
  • Etc. 

Geese & Other Waterfowl

Droppings from geese and ducks can be a significant source of pathogens that pollute our waterways:

• Don't feed geese and ducks, it encourages them to remain and become full-time residents and create a nuisance
• Feeding them bread and popcorn in unhealthy for the birds
• Feeding concentrates geese and leads to human/goose conflicts