Watershed Information

1. Help keep pollution out of storm drains. Storm drains lead directly to our lakes and streams. Never dump oil, pet waste, leaves, dirty water, or anything down a storm drain. Remember, only rain in the drain.

2. Fertilize caringly and sparingly. Excess fertilizer that gets into storm drains pollutes our lakes by causing large algae blooms and using up oxygen fish need to survive. Sweep excess fertilizer back onto your lawn, use a low or no phosphorus fertilizer, and have your soil tested to see what, if any, fertilizer is needed.

3. Carefully store and dispose of household cleaners, chemicals, and oil. Instead of putting hazardous products like antifreeze, motor oil, and pesticides in the trash, down the storm drain, or on the ground, take them to a local hazardous waste collection day.

4. Clean up after your pet. Whether on a walk or in your yard, promptly clean up after your pet. Not only will be you a good neighbor, you will also protect our water from harmful bacteria.

5. Practice good car care. Consider taking your car to a car wash or washing your car on the grass.

6. Choose earth friendly landscaping. Protect your pets, kids, and the environment by using pesticides sparingly. Also, water your lawn only when it needs it and choose plants native to Michigan.

7. Save water. Over watering our lawns can easily carry pollution to the storm drains and to our lakes and streams. Consider using a broom instead of a hose to clean sidewalks and driveways. Direct hoses and sprinklers on the lawn, not the driveway. This will help save our lakes and streams and save you money.

For more easy steps on protecting our lakes and streams, visit www.semcog.org

or you can also visit www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater

POLLUTION PREVENTION /24-HOUR HOTLINE
Wayne County Department of Environment (WCDOE) maintains a telephone “hot line” (888-223-2363)
to log and coordinate response to environmental concerns of all types. The WQMD routinely receives
and responds to pollution complaints from citizens. Citizens can also contact the City directly to report
pollution during business hours at (313) 429-1064.

Additional Links:

Alliance of Downriver Watersheds (ADW), visit http://www.allianceofdownriverwatersheds.com/

Alliance of Rouge Communities (ARC), visit    https://www.allianceofrougecommunities.com/swplanreview.html

Friends of the Rouge, visit       http://www.therouge.org/

Household Hazardous Waste & Electronic Waste Collection, visit http://waynecounty.com/doe/ or go to https://www.waynecounty.com/departments/environmental/landresources/household-hazardous-waste.aspx and click on Upcoming Events to see Hazardous Waste collections events and flyers.

Further Reading:

Carefully Store and Dispose of RV Waste, Cleaners, Chemicals, & Oils

What’s the issue?

Antifreeze, household cleaners, gasoline, pesticides, oil paints, solvents, and motor oil are just
some of the common household products that can enter our storm drains. Help keep these out of
our lakes and streams. Instead of putting these items in the trash, down the storm drain, or on the
ground, take them to a local hazardous waste center or collection day.

Here are some simple steps you can take to carefully dispose of household wastes and help keep
our water clean. Give them a try. A few simple changes can make a big difference!

• Identify it. Be aware of household products that can harm children, pets, and the environment. The words “danger,” “caution,” “warning,” or “toxic” indicate that you need to be careful in how you use and dispose of the product.
• Less is better. Reduce waste and save money by purchasing only the materials you need. When possible, choose less toxic alternatives. For example, try cleaning your windows with vinegar and water.
• Store properly. Keep unused products in their original containers with labels intact. Select cool, dry storage areas that are away from children, pets, and wildlife.
• Disposal is key. Never dump motor oil, chemicals, and other toxic materials down storm drains, sinks, or on the ground. Contact your local community for disposal locations, guidelines, and dates.

Don’t forget the RV. Dispose of recreational vehicle sanitary waste at a nearby drop-off
location. Never put it down a storm drain or roadside ditch! For more information on locations and requirements go to http://www.rvdumps.com/michigan/

Please Contact the Department of Public Works (313) 429-1064 for additional information regarding disposal locations.

Remember, you’re not just fertilizing your lawn…
Storm drains found in our streets and yards empty into our lakes and streams. So, when we fertilize our
lawn we could also be fertilizing our lakes and streams! While fertilizer is good for our lawn, it’s bad for
our water. Fertilizer that enters our lakes and streams can cause algae to grow and use up oxygen that fish
need to survive. So what can you do to help? Simple.

• Sweep it. Sweep excess fertilizer and grass clippings from pavement back onto your lawn so that they don’t wash into storm drains.
• Buy low and go slow. First, find out if you even need fertilizer! Contact your Michigan State University Extension office to get a soil test. If you do need it, choose a fertilizer with no or low phosphorus–phosphorus causes algae growth. You can also use an organic or slow-release nitrogen fertilizer, which causes less harm to water.
• Hire smart. Select a lawn care service that follows the practices noted above. Mow high. Keep your lawn at three inches in height. Taller grass strengthens roots and shades out weeds. Also, remember that the nutrients from grass clippings left on your lawn act as a great fertilizer.
• Make fertilizer-free zones. Keep fertilizer at least 20 feet away from the edge of any lakes, streams, or storm drains.

Remember, it’s not just toxic to you…
Did you know that many household products are dangerous to our kids, pets, and the
environment? These materials pollute our waterways if washed or dumped into storm drains or
roadside ditches that lead directly to our lakes and rivers. Household cleaners, pesticides,
gasoline, antifreeze, used motor oil, and other hazardous products need to be labeled, stored, and
disposed of properly.

So what can you do to help? Simple. Here are some steps you can take to carefully dispose of
household wastes and help keep our water clean.

• Identify it. Be aware of household products that can harm children, pets, and the environment. The words “danger,” “caution,” “warning,” or “toxic” indicate that you need to be careful in how you use and dispose of the product.
• Less is better. Reduce waste and save money by purchasing only the materials you need. When possible, choose less toxic alternatives. For example, try cleaning your windows with vinegar and water.
• Store properly. Keep unused products in their original containers with labels intact. Select cool, dry storage areas that are away from children, pets, and wildlife.
• Disposal is key. Never dump cleaners, chemicals, motor oil, and other toxic materials down storm drains, roadside ditches, sinks, or on the ground. Contact your local community for household hazardous waste disposal locations, guidelines, and dates.

Remember, it ALL Drains to our Lakes and Rivers

Storm drains and roadside ditches lead to our lakes and rivers. So, any oil, pet waste, leaves or
dirty water from washing your car that enters a storm drain gets into our lakes and rivers without
being treated. With almost five million people living in Southeast Michigan, we all need to be
aware of what goes into our storm drains. How can you help? Simple.

• Sweep it. Do you have extra fertilizer, grass clippings, or dirt on your driveway or sidewalk? Sweep it back onto your lawn. Hosing your driveway sends these pollutants into storm drains that lead directly to our lakes and rivers.
• Keep it clean. Whether in the street or in your yard, remember to keep leaves, grass clippings, trash, and fertilizers away from storm drains.
• Only rain in the drain. Never dump motor oil, chemicals, pet waste, dirty or soapy water, or anything else down the storm drain. All of these materials pollute our lakes and rivers!
• Label it. Volunteer to label the storm drains in your neighborhood to inform residents that storm drains flow directly to our lakes and rivers. Call your local community for more information on storm drain stenciling programs.

For more easy steps on protecting our lakes and streams, visit www.semcog.org. Remember, our water is our future – and it’s ours to protect!

After the Storm

Healthy Lawn Care