San Diego Coastkeeper


Tips for the Home

How you can help prevent polluted runoff

 

In the home and garden:

  1. Don't over water yards or landscaping
    This is one of the primary activities leading to stormwater pollution. Excess water carries yard wastes, dirt and pesticides into gutters, down storm drains and into the ocean.

  2. Watch the weather
    Don't use pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers just before it rains. Storms will wash your efforts away and poison aquatic animals.

  3. Limit or eliminate garden toxics
    Pesticides and herbicides not only kill pesky insects and weeds, they make swimmers ill and can kill birds and fish, as well as beneficial insects. Talk to your local nursery about nontoxic alternatives.

  4. Avoid chemical fertilizers
    Use nutrients from your compost pile or soil amendments such as peat moss, blood or bone meal, fish emulsion, manure or seaweed.

  5. Compost your yard trimmings
    Yard waste clogs storm drains and causes flooding. Once it reaches the ocean, the decaying waste absorbs oxygen fish need to survive.

  6. Conserve water whenever possible
    Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and save hundreds of gallons of water each year. You will also lower your water and sewer bills.

  7. Clean up after your pets
    Animal feces washed into storm drains account for an alarming level of harmful bacteria in polluted runoff.

  8. Cover excavated materials
    During the rainy season, use plastic tarps to cover excavated materials, stockpiles of asphalt, sand and yard clippings, and dumpsters. Prevent wind from blowing contaminants into gutters. Schedule grading and excavating projects for dry weather.