The Most Common Stormwater Violations and How You Can Help

The Most Common Stormwater Violations and How You Can Help

Wash Water

The Pollution Wash Water Wash water that flows into the street and storm drains goes directly to the streams. The average driveway carwash uses 116 gallons of water! Most soaps contain phosphates and other chemicals that can be harmful to fish and wildlife Everything that was making your car dirty is now making our streams dirty The Solution How You Can Help Take your car to a car wash. Car wash stations recycle the wash water and send the dirty water to the waste water treatment plant. Wash your car in the grass so that the water can soak into the ground and help your grass grow. Use less water. Use a bucket and rag instead of a pressure washer and put a spray nozzle on the hose so that it shuts off when not needed. Use soap sparingly and pour out all wash buckets onto the grass, not the curb, street, or storm drain.

Fertilizer

The Pollution - Fertilizer Too much fertilizer washes away when it rains and flows directly to the streams. Most soils need very little or no fertilizer at all. Careless spreading of fertilizer wastes money by spreading over streets, driveways, and sidewalks. Fertilizer contains nitrogen that makes algae grow and can lead to fish kills. The Solution How You Can Help Read the label on any fertilizer and follow the directions and don t fertilize when rain is expected or just before watering your lawn. Have your soil tested before fertilizing. You may not need it. The NC Department of Agriculture will test soil for free. Use a hand spreader or be careful not to spread fertilizer on any type of pavement and sweep up any excess. Use compost and natural fertilizers instead of chemicals.

Litter

The Pollution - Litter Anything that goes into the street and storm drains goes directly to the streams. Litter can block storm drains and ditches and lead to increased flooding. Litter provides a place for mosquitoes, mice, and snakes to hide. Besides being unsightly, litter is a health hazard to people and animals. The Solution How You Can Help Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Place all trash in appropriate receptacles and separate when possible. Don t throw trash into any streets, storm drains or ditches and report litter bugs to the appropriate authorities. Participate in neighborhood cleanup programs.

Yard Wastes

The Pollution Yard Wastes Leaves and grass clippings placed in the street and curb clog storm drains and can cause flooding. Leaves and grass clippings contain nitrogen that if released into the stormwater could increase algae growth Yard wastes provide places for mosquitoes, mice, and snakes to hide. Yard wastes piled in the street and curb can affect traffic and cause safety hazards. The Solution How You Can Help Mow your grass in a direction that discharges the clippings toward the center of your yard instead of the street. Rake and containerize leaves and clippings and place them BEHIND the curb for pick up. Use a mulching blade to recycle grass nutrients back into the soil. Compost grass clippings and leaves to use as an alternative to fertilizer.

Pet Wastes

The Pollution Pet Waste Rainwater that washes over pet wastes flows into the street and storm drains and goes directly to the streams. Pet wastes contain harmful bacteria such as fecal coliform and E. Coli. These bacteria flow downstream eventually affecting our beaches and seafood. The average dog dropping produces 3 billion fecal coliform bacteria. The Solution How You Can Help Pick up behind your pets. Place wastes in a trash bin. Never put pet wastes in the storm drain, ditches, or creeks. Compost the manure with your yard waste and table scraps for a natural fertilizer. Take advantage of pet waste stations and encourage your neighborhood to use pooper scoopers.

Oil and Gas

The Pollution - Petroleum Oil and gas that drips onto the street flows down storm drains goes directly to the streams. Oil does not dissolve in water and is harmful to plants and animals. One quart of oil can contaminate 250,000 gallons of water and one gallon of gasoline can contaminate 750,000 gallons of water! Americans spill 180 million gallons of used oil per year into the water. This is 16 times more than the Exxon Valdez tanker spill. The Solution How You Can Help Keep your car in good condition. Fix any leaks as soon as possible. Have your oil changed by a certified mechanic who recycles used oil. Be careful not to spill any oil when working on your own car or pumping gas and never dump oil down the drain or on the ground. Recycle used petroleum products to be used for things like heating oil and diesel fuel.

Stream Buffers

What is a Riparian Buffer? Riparian Buffers are strips of trees and other vegetation along creeks that are critical to the health of our streams. Buffers slow down and filter pollutants like oils and pesticides in the stormwater runoff. Buffers help reduce erosion by holding the soil in place with plant roots and stems. Clearing, grading, and building within a regulated buffer area may be restricted. What Can I Do? Call the City of Wilson Stormwater Division to determine if you have a buffered stream on your property. Do not clear or cut trees within the first 30 feet from the stream. Do not place any buildings or driveways within the first 50 feet from the stream without special authorization. Plant seedlings and other native plants along the stream to further enhance or restore the buffer.