Adopt a Storm Drain

OTHER WAYS TO PREVENT STORM WATER POLLUTION

Outdoor Cleaning/Yard Waste

Take your grass clippings to the Green Waste Site. Even better, compost them to make a natural fertilizer for your garden.  Instead of using a pressure washer or house, use a broom to sweep sidewalks and driveways and dispose of the green waste properly.  Whatever you do, don't leave yard waste on the sidewalk or blow or sweep it in the street, because it will likely end up in the storm drain! Organic waste in the storm drain causes problems, it just stinks!

Pet Waste

You hate stepping in it. And fish hate swimming in it, too! When you walk your dog, make sure to carry a plastic bag with you so that you can pick up the waste and dispose of it propperly. Flushing is the best disposal method (don't flush the plastic bag), but you can also throw it in a trash can. 

It is important to carry out the pet waste even from the foothills.

Do your 'doody' in both public areas and in your yard to prevent waste from ending up in the River.

Waste and Material Storage

If rain falls into a dumpster or on raw materials, then it's carrying some of that stuff with it as it drains away. A little good housekeeping can take care of that problem. Keep the lid of the dumpster closed, keep chemicals indoors or in a covered areas with tight-fitting lids with secondary containment.

Lawn Chemicals and Fertilizer

Test your soil and read the label before you apply fertilizer. If you use too much fertilizer, the excess will just wash away in the next rain, polluting our rivers. Use fertilizers sparingly and sweep up driveways, sidewalks and walkways.

You may not even need to fertilize your yard! According to experts, most homeowners over-fertilize their lawns.

Irrigation/Lawn Watering

A lawn needs just one inch of water per week to be green. If you are watering more than that, a lot of that water is running off into the nearest waterway, taking your fertilizer, seeds, and hard-earned money right along with it. Adjust your sprinklers so they don't water the driveway, sidewalk, or streets. Even better, use drip irrigation or soaker hoses.

Household Chemicals or Hazardous Waste

Chemical products such as paints, stains, oils, cleaners, vehicle fluids, and fertilizers can be poisonous and toxic to the environment and the plants, fish, and other animals that live in it. Reduce how much and how frequently you use these products when possible, store them indoors or in covered areas out of the rain, keep the original label intact and make sure to properly secure the lid after each use. Always follow the manufacturer's guidelines on proper use, storage, and disposal of chemical products. These types of chemicals cannot be thrown in the trash like other residential waste. One local option for disposing of Household Hazardous Waste is the Weber County Transfer Station.

Car Care

It matters how and where you take care of your car. When you are working on your car, take care to catch your used fluids in safe containers that you can take to a recycling center. Never dispose of these chemicals down a storm drain. If you spill anything, try to use absorbents such as kitty litter to soak it up enough to sweep it, instead of using liquids to clean it up.  Adding liquids to a spill may make the mess flow down the driveway and into the gutter where it could impact a storm drain. 
It is best to take your car to a professional carwash. They have special equipment to treat all the dirty water they produce. If you wash your car yourself at home, it is best to park your car on the grass, rather than leave it on the driveway.

Soak up the Rain!

Rainwater won't become storm water pollution if you keep it on your property! You can do that by connecting rain barrels to your gutters and using the water they capture in your lawn and garden later. If you are renovating, consider a rain garden or modern 'pervious' pavers that allow water to soak through into the soil below.

Many people wonder if it is legal to harvest rain water. Check out this flyer from Utah State University.

Septic System

If you smell sewage or see especially lush plants growing on your leach field, then your septic system might need attention. If your septic system needs repair, it might be polluting your local waterways. If it gets too bad, it might back up into your home!

Pool Care

Do you know how your eyes can burn after too much time in the chlorinated water of a swimming pool? Imagine how that feels for fish and frogs! Pool owners should stop chlorinating and dechlorinate pool water as soon as they know they're going to drain the pool and drain the water on the grass or rocks to filter, rather than directly into a street gutter. Swimming pool water should be dechlorinated to less than one part per million (PPM) chlorine before it is drained.