NCS000482_Preventing Stormwater Pollution At Home Brochure_20220526

OUTDOOR POLLUTION PREVENTION
Car Care
♦ Repair leaks and
properly dispose of used
auto fluids (antifreeze,
oil, etc.).
♦ Use a commercial car
wash or wash your car on a pervious
surface such as grass or gravel that can
filter the water. Buy biodegradable
soaps that are chlorine and phosphate -
free.
Lawn Care
♦ Limit the amount of
impervious surface on your
property and vegetate
bare spots in your yard.
Direct downspouts away
from hard surfaces to
vegetated areas so runoff from the roof
can soak into the ground.
Consider installing a rain garden to
allow water more time to soak into the
ground.
Pick up your pet's waste
and dispose of it in the,
trash.
Mow high and mulch
your grass clippings
back onto your lawn.
Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly
and always follow the
directions for proper
application.
♦ Do not dump
anything into the
sformwafer drainage
system.
"only rain down
the storm drain"
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Preventing
Stormwater
Report stormwater concerns to
our hotline at
704-282-4515
For more information
visit the Sformwater Services
website at www.monroenc.org
T City of
1 onroe
Stormwater

WHAT IS STORMWATER RUNOFF?
When it rains, water can either soak into
the ground in grass and landscaped
areas or run off impervious surfaces such
as our streets, parking lots, sidewalks and
roofs. Stormwater runoff is the water that
flows over ground surface areas picking
up any pollutants in its path as the runoff
flows into our stormwater drainage
system. Since the stormwater drainage
system is not treated these pollutants are
discharged directly into the nearest
creek, stream, river or lake. Common
pollutants in our watershed include
sediment, fertilizer, pet waste, yard waste,
auto fluids and litter.
WHAT MAKES UP THE STORM
DRAINAGE SYSTEM?
♦ Catch basins
♦ Drop inlets II�I��I�IIIIIIII
♦ Curb inlets
♦ Drainage ditches l
♦ Head walls
♦ Pipes
♦ Outfalls
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF
STORMWATER POLLUTION?
Sediment, or loose soil, clouds waterways
making it difficult for sunlight to reach
aquatic plants, impairs fish vision and can
smother aquatic habitats.
Excessive nutrients from
fertilizers, pet waste,
agricultural waste and
yard waste can cause -
algae or vegetation
blooms. When all of the
algae and plants die,
their decomposition uses up lots of
dissolved oxygen depriving fish and other
wildlife.
Pet waste can also contain a variety of
bacteria and pathogens that are harmful
to human health and wildlife.
Litter such as bottles, cans, plastic bags,
take-out containers
and cigarette butts - -
that wash into
waterways can trap, r `.
injure, suffocate or kill
the creatures that
reside there.
Household hazardous wastes such as paint,
cleaners, insecticides, herbicides, motor oil
and antifreeze can poison creatures living
in the water. People and other animals
can become sick or die from eating
diseased fish or ingesting polluted water.
Polluted stormwater
affects drinking water
sources which affects
human health and
increases drinking
water treatment costs.
INDOOR POLLUTION PREVENTION
♦ Properly dispose of unused cleaners,
paint, pesticides, fertilizers, pool
chemicals and other household
hazardous wastes (HHWs). Never pour
them into storm drains. Check the label
of such materials before you pour them
down an indoor drain to
see if they need to be
brought to a HHW
collection site. Do not put sceaon
liquids in the trash.
♦ Reduce your use of
household hazardous wastes by
searching for alternative cleaners,
fertilizers and ways to manage pests.
♦ Don't dump your mop bucket outside,
pour it down an indoor drain so the
water is treated at the wastewater
treatment plant before being released
into the environment.
♦ Clean paint brushes and supplies inside
for the same reason.
♦ Securely bag all of your garbage and
make sure your trash and
recycling cart lids are closed
when you put them at the
curb for collection. If you
need another cart, call our
Solid Waste Department at
704-282-4565.
Visit the Stormwater Services Public
Involvement website for more
information about the following
volunteer programs!
♦ Adopt -A -Stream oow=
♦ Storm Drain Marking
♦ Water Quality Monitoring °"°NP°
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