What is Stormwater runoff? Watch this short video to find out more!
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Cleaning up after your pet is an essential step, not only to keep the community clean, but to protect our water system from harmful contaminants. Did you know one gram of pet waste can contain 23 million fecal coliform bacteria? These harmful bacteria end up in the water where we fish, swim, and play. Always picking up after you pet is an easy way to keep our waterways clean!
2. Keep grass clippings off of paved surfaces. Blowing grass clippings on to pavement or into storm drains can clog the stormwater system and cause drainage issues. Also, when grass decomposes it releases nitrogen and phosphorus which act as pollutants to waterways.
3. Use winter salt sparingly. A tiny amount of salt can cause a large amount of water contamination.
You can keep sidewalks and driveways safe this winter while protecting our waters by following these simple steps:
1. Shovel
Clear walkways and other areas before the snow turns to ice. The more snow you remove manually, the less salt you will have to use and the more effective it will be.
2. Scatter
If you use salt, scatter it so that there is space between the grains. Believe it or not, a coffee mug of salt is enough to treat an entire 20-foot driveway or 10 sidewalk squares.
3. Switch
When pavement temperatures drop below 15 degrees, salt won’t work. Switch to sand for traction or a different ice melter (PDF) that works at lower temperatures.
Click HERE for the Wisconsin DNR Stormwater Runoff page. You'll find educational information, as well as stormwater permit information
