Many people mistakenly believe that water pollution only comes from big factories with tall smokestacks and wastewater treatment plants that discharge pollutants directly through a pipe into our waterways. In fact, industrial pollution sources have been regulated for many years, and even if these sources were completely eliminated, up to half of all water pollution would still remain. This is because much of today's water pollution comes from many sources resulting from our own everyday activities. For example, if we take our dog to the park or let them out into the backyard, and we don't clean up the dog waste, it will get washed into the nearest waterway the next time it rains. Similarly, when we apply chemicals to our lawn or garden to kill bugs or weeds (herbicides or pesticides) some of the chemicals will get washed into local waterways. What do you think happens when chemicals that kill bugs and plants get into our lakes and streams? These chemicals often kill other plants and animals that are important to the health of our waterways. What we do in our own backyards and our own communities can make all the difference to the quality of our rivers, lakes and streams.
When rain falls or snow melts in Washington County, have you ever wondered where the water goes? Does it soak into the ground? Does it sit in puddles until it disappears? If you think the answer is yes, you are partially right. Some water does soak into the ground through pervious areas such as lawns, gardens, forests and meadows, and some evaporates off hard surfaces and through plants. But not all rainwater is able to soak into the ground or evaporate.
Stormwater runoff conveys more than just water to streams, rivers, and lakes. Rain and snowmelt carry dirt, grease, trash and more from roads, parking lots and other hard surfaces into storm drains and ditches, and these empty directly into our waterways. Storm water also carries excess nutrients, like phosphorus, which turns our lakes and streams green and smelly and harms fish. The way to protect and clean our waterways is to make sure only rain - and nothing else - goes into the storm drains and ditches.
As development occurs, permeable ground such as lawns, farmland, woods, forests or meadows get covered by impermeable surfaces such as rooftops and pavement. As a result, less water soaks into the ground and more water becomes stormwater runoff. This increased flow of stormwater runoff can carry more pollutants into local waterways and can also cause flooding. Increased imperviousness also reduces the amount of water that seeps into underground water supplies called aquifers. Most Washington County residents get their drinking water from these aquifers. Infiltration is also important because water that soaks into the ground flows underground to discharge from springs into lakes and streams. Water that flows underground to lakes and streams is cooled and filtered in the process. By contrast, stormwater runoff is typically warm and contains pollutants. Thus, more infiltration means cleaner and cooler water in our waterways, and a greater supply of safe and affordable drinking water.
To review, the two factors most important to clean waterways:
1. Keep pollutants out of the path of stormwater runoff, and
2. Infiltrate as much water as possible directly into the ground
For More Information:
Regional Natural Resources Program
UW-Extension Natural Resource Educators
Department of Natural Resources - What is Stormwater Runoff?Top 10 Things You Can Do To Help Clean Up Area Waterways
1. Be a Watershed Watchdog
If you see a potential stormwater problem, such as clogged storm drains, trash in the gutter, pollutants washing into or discharging from storm sewers, or uncontrolled erosion from construction sites, contact your local municipal or county public works department.
2. Be a Pooper Scooper-Pick Up After Your Pets
You can flush pet waste down the toilet, bury it 4-6 inches deep in the yard or dispose in a specially designed composter. Do not put it in your vegetable garden or compost that will be used for your garden.
Information About Pet Waste:
Pet Waste and Water Quality (pdf)
3. Don't Overfeed Your Lawn
Test your soil before buying and applying fertilizer to your lawn. Most lawns do not need phosphorus, so don't pay for something you don't need. If soil tests show that your lawn does need fertilizer, apply according to manufacturer's instructions. Don't "double the dose".
Information About Fertilizers:
Yard Care and the Environment - Lawn and Garden Fertilizers (pdf)
4. Keep Leaves and Grass Clippings Out of the Street, Gutters, Drainage Ditches and Storm Drains
Use leaves and/or grass clippings as mulch, or add it to a compost pile. Clippings and leaves can also be tilled directly into garden or flowerbeds. If you live in a city or village, check your community's website to find out when the next leaf, brush and grass clipping pick-up is.
City of West Bend:
Brush Collection
Leaf Collection
Refuse Collection
Recycling
City of Hartford:
Leaf & Brush Collection
Garbage Collection
Recycling
Village of Germantown:
Garbage & Recycling Collection
Village of Jackson:
Brush, Grass, Garbage & Recycling
Village of Kewaskum:
Grass, Leaf & Bulk Item Collection
Village of Slinger:
Leaf & Brush Collection
Refuse & Recycling
Town of Hartford:
Recycling Center
Town of West Bend:
Disposal Services
Information About Composting Bins:
Home Composting Overview (DNR)
5. Conserve Water
Maximize infiltration in your yard by directing rainwater away from paved areas. Plant a rain garden filled with deep-rooted grasses and wildflowers to maximize water absorption into the ground. If you don't have a rain garden, aim downspouts to grassy areas or into a rain barrel.
Rain Garden Brochure:
How-To Manual For Homeowners (pdf)
Ways to conserve water in the kitchen, bathroom and home:
Home Advisor
6. Kick Your Chemical Dependency
Use non-toxic alternatives to conventional household chemicals whenever possible. When not possible, properly dispose of hazardous household chemicals such as oil-based paints, cleaning chemicals, pesticides, solvents, batteries and disinfectants. Never dispose of hazardous chemicals or wash paint brushes in the storm drain. Learn more about how to properly dispose of hazardous chemicals through the County's Clean Sweep Program.
Information About Pesticides:
Yard Care and the Environment - Lawn and Garden Pesticides (pdf)
7. Practice Careful Car Care
Regularly maintain your car and fix any oil, radiator or transmission leak as soon as you see them. If you change your own oil, make sure to take the used oil to a recycling collection site. Never pour it behind the garage, on the driveway to kill weeds or down the storm drain. Also, consider using a commercial car wash, or wash your car on your lawn to prevent car-washing detergents from washing down the storm drain.
8. Use A Proper Container For Trash and Recyclables
Don't put trash into the street or gutter where it can be washed into the storm sewer system and then to local waterways.
9. Make Friends With Your Watershed
Join a local watershed or conservation group and help clean up waterways in your area. Check out the following websites to learn more about local organizations working to clean up local waterways.
Milwaukee Riverkeeper
Milwaukee River Basin Partnership
Ozaukee Washington Land Trust
Rock River Coalition, Inc.
Riveredge Nature Center
10. Keep Soil In Your Yard and Out Of Our Waterways
Bare soil easily washes into the storm drains. Cover exposed soil with seed and mulch as soon as possible. Cover piles of soil for your yard or garden with a tarp until you're ready to use it. If you're building a home, choose a builder who takes extra care not to track mud onto the streets, and who installs and maintains practices that prevent soil from washing off your lot during construction. (i.e. silt fencing)
20 Ways To Conserve Water at Home: A Room-by-Room Guide!
Thank You to Girl Scout Katie (earning her Eco Friend Badge) for recommending this link for kids!
A Student's Guide to Conservation & Environmental Science
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Fun games that help you to understand different kinds of pollution that can occur around the home and neighborhood.
What's Wrong With This Picture?
Activities for Students and Educators - Learn about Water
Recycle City/Dumptown Interactive Game
Water Education Foundation
The mission of the Water Education Foundation, an impartial, nonprofit organization, is to create a better understanding of water resources and foster public understanding and resolution of water resource issues through facilitation, education and outreach.
Water-Kids' Page