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Here are some simple tips to help keep our waters clean: Litter Litter disposed of in a storm drain can choke, suffocate and disable aquatic life. Dispose of your litter by throwing it in a trash can or recycling it. In addition, do your part by properly disposing of litter you find in the street or on the sidewalk. Washing your car Washing your car in the driveway creates a runoff of soap and other chemicals that ends up in the nearest storm drain. You can either take your car to a self-service car wash, which is designed with special drains for proper disposal, or wash your car on your lawn. The dirt below will act as a filter for the soap. Pet waste
Pet waste dumped in storm drains goes straight into your rivers and lakes, contaminating the water. Even when you leave waste on your lawn, harmful bacteria can make its way into the drains, causing the same damage. It’s best to dispose of waste in the trash or, better yet, flush it down the toilet. This water will be properly treated. Household chemicals Cleaning products and other household chemicals should never be dumped outside, down the sink or down a storm drain. You can dispose of your household chemicals for free at Under the Sink, the City's household hazardous waste disposal facility. Check their website for drop off information.
Use sustainable techniques for reducing stormwater runoff
Green techniques such as rain gardens, rain barrels, and green roofs can reduce stormwater runoff as well as reduce water consumption and lower utility bills. Click the link below to view “Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In", a video produced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Botanic Garden to highlight these types of techniques. Reduce Runoff, Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In Interested in learning more about rain barrels? Become part of Omaha's Rain Barrel Program! Click here to learn more.
Want to learn how to install your own rain garden? Omaha Green Gardens Project offered several Rain Garden Workshops in March. Please see this flyer for details and check the News section for future workshops. The manuals are now available for sale at the Douglas-Sarpy County Extension Office.
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Stormwater pollution is the untreated contaminated water that drains from the streets Omaha, and through the municipal storm drain system. The runoff eventually drains into the Papillion Creek System, the Missouri River and the Elkhorn River. When we dump harsh chemicals on our lawns and dispose of toxic substances via storm drains, harmful pollutants enter our waterways, killing fish, destroying wildlife habitats, decreasing aesthetic value and contaminating the water we boat in, swim in – and drink. It’s a risk to our environment...and a risk to our health.
