NCS000454_Indian Trail_FamilyFunDay_SW Brochure_20200805

WHAT IS STORMWATER?
Stormwater is rain that washes off houses,
driveways, parking lots and other hardened
surfaces. It picks up
pollution such as
detergents, yard wastes,
pet waste, trash, leaking
fluids from cars and
washes them into
creeks and streams.
Stormwater becomes an
increasing concern in
our region as more and PestiCi-S
FBFIil—r
more land is developed, � Yartiwa• e
Litter Auto Fluids
and rain has an
increased chance of pet W ""
"running off' as
opposed to being
swallowed to soak into
the ground.
Sewer systems collect
water from sinks,
toilets, showers,
washing machines, etc.
It is drained into a pipe
system that leads to a
wastewater treatment
plant. Treated water is
then released back into creeks, rivers, and streams.
A storm drain system is made of man-made storm
drains, pipes and ditches that accumulate stormwater
runoff and drains it into streams and creeks.
Dirt/Sedu t
HOW TO HELP!
There are many ways you can help prevent
pollution of our storm water. Some of these are:
1. Maintain your vehicle properly - change the
oil and the air filter regularly. This will help
increase your car's performance and fuel
economy. Bad spark plugs decrease your
car's performance too! Follow
manufacturer's recommendations to replace
them
2. Don't wash your car in the driveway, pull it
into the yard so most of the wash water stays
in your yard
3. Don't wash the sidewalk with the hose, in-
stead, pick up litter and sweep the dust into
a dustpan and discard it
4. Try to control pests in your yard and garden
without using chemicals. Ladybugs love to
eat aphids on your roses
5. Follow landscape watering guidelines so you
don't over -water. Xeriscape with and climate
plants with lower water requirements
6. Don't drain your pool, spa, hot tub, or fountain
into the storm drain or your street
7. Don't throw litter on the street or dump any-
thing into the storm drains
8. Report any illegal dumping in the Town of
Indian Trail by calling 704-821-5401
9. Get Involved:
Adopt -A -
Roadway
Forms are available at the indiantrail.org
10. Carpool - your car will last longer and save
money on fuel too

LAWN CARE ADVICE!
Lawn care, landscaping, and pest control practices are major
contributors to stormwater pollution. Rain and Irrigation runoff
flows across yards, rooftops, paved areas, and picks up dirt,
leaves, grass clippings, garden chemicals, and anything else in
its path. Then this polluted water flows directly into the storm
drain system.
Nutrients and other chemicals from yard waste can cause
excessive algae growth and toxin production. Algae can rob the
organisms that live in our streams from the oxygen they need to
survive, not to mention killing fish along the way.
Below are some tips that will help prevent extra stormwater
runoff and pollution from entering into the Town's watershed.
You can make a difference!!
Mowing Pattern: Avoid mowing in the same direction or pattern
each time you mow. When you do this, you risk compacting soil
and actually creating ruts. Both compacted soil and ruts can
lead to grass that's less healthy, followed by weeds that thrive
in compacted soil. Try to keep the grass clippings in your yard.
The grass clippings will help the health of your yard and it will
be less organic matter added to the stormwater system.
Adjusting Mower Height: Adjust mower height throughout the
growing season. For instance, shift the cutting deck higher in
summer and allow grass to grow longer. Taller grass helps
shade soil, which prevents weed growth and slows water
evaporation from soil.
Grasscycling: When you let grass clippings lie on the lawn
after cutting, that's called grasscycling. It not only saves you
time (no more bagging clippings), but it also saves money (no
more yard waste bags or fees). Grass clippings can provide up
to 25 percent of your lawn's fertilizer needs, so you'll save some
dough on fertilizer too. You don't need a specialized mulching
mower, although you might want to replace your current mower
blade with a mulching blade, which cuts grass into smaller
pieces that decompose quickly.
Fertilizing: Fertilize only when necessary or not at all. If you do
choose to fertilize, be sure to follow the instructions on the
package and use only the recommended amount. Excess
fertilizer will wash off your yard when it rains and end up in the
local watershed. The added fertilizer that ends up in the
watershed can affect the animal life that live and drink from the
ecosystem.
SERVICES
TM
INDIANTRAEL
north Carolina
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SMACES
INDLAN TRAIL. NC
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