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The Homeowner's Guide to Protecting Our Waterways
As water flows over land, it collects soil, pet wastes,
fertilizers, oils and other pollutants. Even if your house is
not near a stream or river, the runoff will flow down the
street into a ditch or storm drain that will eventually empty
into a stream, taking soil and pollutants along with it.
 By
making wise decisions in your yard about lawn care and
chemical disposal, you can help protect our water quality.
Better water quality means protected sources of drinking water
and a safe environment for you and your family.
Responsible Lawn Care
Pesticides and fertilizers can improve the appearance of
the landscape; however, improper use of these chemicals can
harm water quality. Here are some tips to protect
water quality:
· Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly.
· Keep fertilizer off of paved surfaces. Sweep it back onto
the lawn.
· Don't fertilize before a rainstorm.
· Don't bag grass. Leave it on the lawn to reduce the need to
fertilize.
· Mow at the proper height. Fescue thrives at 3 inches.
Mowing any closer will create favorable conditions for weeds.
Proper Disposal of Trash and Chemicals
Don't litter. Litter is one of the most unsightly forms of
pollution in our local waterways and can easily be prevented.
Carry a bag for waste along in the car to eliminate the
temptation to throw it out the window. Use an ashtray for
ashes and cigarette butts, and properly dispose in the
trashcan periodically.
Proper chemical disposal is important for health and
safety. Be sure to take chemicals such as paint, furniture
stripper, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, oil, car
batteries and antifreeze to the proper locations for disposal.
Information about the appropriate disposal of these materials
can be obtained from the Lucas County Solid Waste District at
419-213-2230 or Keep Toledo Lucas County Beautiful at
419-213-2255.
Automotive Care and Maintenance
Mechanical Maintenance: Fluid spills and improper
disposal of materials result in pollutants entering streams
and lakes. Here are some ideas to protect our waterways during
vehicle maintenance. · Drip pans and draining boards should
be used to capture solvents and oils for proper disposal. ·
Use as little water as possible to clean spills, leaks and
drips by using rags and dry absorbent material such as kitty
litter. · Promptly take all fluids and batteries to the
proper facility for disposal. · Do not pour waste onto the
ground or into storm drains.
Cleaning: When cars are washed in driveways and
parking lots, the dirty wash water finds its way into the
drainage system and ultimately into streams and lakes. Wash
water contains pollutants such as oils and grease, phosphates
(from the soap), and heavy metals, all of which have negative
effects on water quality.
Wash your car in the grass. The wash water will be treated
by the soil, and the grass will benefit from the water.
An alternative is to wash your car at a commercial car
wash. There the dirty wash water enters the sanitary sewer
system, where it is treated before being released back into
the stream.
Pick Up after Your Pets
Animal waste contributes harmful bacteria to local waters.
These bacteria can pose health risks to humans and other
animals, and result in the spread of disease.
 When taking the dog for a walk, take a few small bags and
one large zip-lock bag. When doggie makes a deposit, turn a
baggie inside out over your hand and use like a glove to pick
up the waste. Transfer it to a larger bag and drop it in the
trash.
Another option is to take a "poop-scoop" and
plastic bags along and deposit waste in public garbage cans
along the way.
What is an Illicit Discharge?
The Environmental Protection
Agency defines an illicit discharge as any discharge to a
separate storm sewer system that is not composed entirely of
storm water runoff. Exceptions
to this include discharges from NPDES-permitted industrial
sources, discharges from fire fighting, water line flushing,
landscape irrigation, lawn watering and the discharge of
nonchlorinated swimming pool water.
Illicit discharges can potentially pollute and
degrade our streams, rivers and lakes.
Additionally, these adversely affect public health
and safety, drinking water supplies, recreation, fish and
other aquatic life, property values and other uses of land
and water.
Some examples of illicit discharges
include discharges from failed septic tanks, materials such
as motor oil, radiator fluid, paint thinner, gasoline, paint
and pet waste that have been illegally dumped into a storm
drain or catch basin or an oil or chemical spill that
reaches the storm sewer.
These non-storm water discharges occur due to spills,
dumping and improper connections to the municipal storm
sewer from residential, industrial, commercial or
institutional establishments.
The City of Maumee has a separate storm
sewer system. All
of the storm sewers discharge into a stream or river.
Therefore, it is important to protect our
storm sewers and waterways from illicit discharges.
If you suspect an illicit discharge, report it to the
Sewer Division at 419-897-7190.
Someone will be available during normal business hours,
or feel free to leave a message during evening, weekends and
holiday hours. Or
contact us at sewers@maumee.org.
Storm Water Facts
· 16 times more storm water runoff is produced by a
one-acre parking lot compared to a one-acre meadow.
· A single quart of motor oil dumped down a storm drain
creates a two-acre oil slick.
· 70 million pounds of active pesticide ingredients are
applied to lawns in our country each year.
· Three billion fecal coliform bacteria are produced by an
average sized dog dropping.
· Over one million acres of land are converted to urban use
in the U. S. each year.
· Approximately 27,200 gallons of water fall on a one acre
yard during a one-inch rainfall.
· Recent research has discovered that urban stream quality
begins to decline sharply once impervious cover in a
watershed, such as streets, driveways, sidewalks and rooftops,
exceeds 10%.
For more information or to report stream pollution you may
contact the City of Maumee Sewer Division at 419-897-7190.
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