Storm Drain Pollution Prevention!

Before beginning an outdoor project, locate the nearest storm drain and take action to protect it from debris!

Waste materials from outdoor projects are major contributors to storm drain pollution. Lawn clippings, leaves, and polluted runoff will wash down the street towards the nearest storm drain. Wood chips, loose trash, and other debris from home renovation projects will eventually get pushed towards the storm drain and may clog it—causing a major catastrophe! Wastes and oil from your car also contribute to storm drain pollution. Be aware that what you do outside directly affects the health of your storm drain, and the ocean. The EPA estimates that in the United States, 32 billion gallons of runoff (contaminated water) from urban areas, farms, and factories enters the oceans each day. That is the equivalent of about 32,000 Olympic sized swimming pools!

From home to ocean, take action! This month, seek out the storm drain nearest to your home.

• Before beginning an outdoor project, think of the possible waste that will result. Will there be leaves to collect or chemicals that might run down the driveway? Take measures to prevent polluting before you get started.
• Monitor your storm drain. Make sure nothing hazardous is dumped in this location.
• Clear away debris, or contact the City to clear the storm drain.

Always be wary about what you do outside your home. If your project involves home repair/renovation, car maintenance, yard work, fertilizing, painting, or cleaning, make sure your runoff or waste materials do not travel down the street into a storm drain. A good rule of thumb—never pour anything into a storm drain that you wouldn’t want to drink or swim in! Whatever goes down the storm drain leads straight to the ocean. If you ever think about dumping waste into the storm drain, think about how this will affect you or someone you know during the next visit to the beach.