As the weather cools down this fall, we head out to mow, rake, wash the car and walk the dog.
All of these tasks can take a toll on our streams, sending yard clippings, fertilizer, soap and pet waste down the stormwater drain and into our waterways.
Here are three easy ways to help keep our water clean:
- Mulch your leaves and grass clippings. A thin layer of mulched leaves will break down throughout the winter and add much-needed organic matter to your lawn. But don’t let those clippings go down storm drains, which flow to the city’s creeks, rivers and lakes. Nutrients from yard waste placed in or near bodies of water slowly make their way into the water, causing potentially harmful algae blooms. If you have excess yard waste, collect it in a paper yard waste bag and have your trash hauler remove it or take it to a composting facility.
- Be a responsible pet owner. Use waste bags to clean up after pets and place used bags in the garbage. Pet waste left on lawns does not break down and fertilize the grass. Pet waste left in the grass washes into storm drains. Harmful bacteria in pet waste can contaminate the water, making it unfit for human contact.
- Only rain down the drain. As water travels through our yards and over our driveways into storm drains, it picks up many pollutants such as motor oil, fertilizer and other chemicals that can harm our ponds, lakes and wildlife. Wash your car at a commercial car wash, and be sure to use drip trays to catch fluids when working on your car.
More than 70 miles of creeks, streams and rivers flow through Overland Park. You can prevent stormwater pollution by following essential sustainability best practices around your home.
Find more tips and resources at opkansas.org/Stream.