Stormwater passes through your home, but eventually it will still be redirected back to rivers, lakes, and other natural bodies of water via your drainage system – as it does this, it may end up carrying waste, chemicals, pesticides, and other substances that might be harmful to the environment. Therefore, the goal of efficient stormwater management BMP solutions like StormChamber by HydroLogic Solutions is to make sure that stormwater pollution is prevented as such systems regulate the flow of runoff, store water to avert flooding, and maintain water quality by filtering out the sediments. As a homeowner, you have a part to play in this as well – starting with what you do on your lawn.
Contain Grass Clippings
When you’re trimming your lawn, make sure that you keep grass clippings, branches, and other organic debris from going down into the drainage or stormwater systems. They could deplete oxygen levels in bodies of water and harm aquatic life. You can choose to leave the clippings on your lawn, use it for compost, or have it collected by your local waste recovery center for proper disposal.
Proper Car Washing
Know that what you wash your car with also ends up in the drains, so you ought to consider using only safe, biodegradable cleaning solutions that wouldn’t be poisonous to the local marine life. If you can, you might try to wash your car on your lawn or other surfaces that can readily absorb the water or at least keep it from flowing down into the street.
Wise Watering
An article posted at the Resource Stewardship website for Thurston County, Washington mentions that it also helps to be wise when watering your yard:
“A healthy, green lawn needs no more than one inch of water per week. To measure, place empty tuna cans, or similar containers, around your lawn while your sprinkler is running. Time how long it takes to fill the cans one inch. This is the amount of time you should water your lawn each non-rainy week.
Another option is to let your lawn go dormant over the summer. A deep watering once per rainless month will let your lawn revive quickly when fall rains return.”
Reduce or Eliminate Pesticides
Lawn chemicals and pesticides are among the most common causes of stormwater pollution, so it would help if you could take steps to avoid using such substances. You can use natural compost and organic fertilizers like cottonseed meal and bone meal instead. You’ll be able to beautify your lawn without harming Mother Nature.
Environment-friendly and efficient storm water management practice is an excellent way to decrease water pollution. Thus, it definitely helps to invest in stormwater solutions like StormChamber.
(Source: Common-Sense Lawn Care Tips, Thurston County, WA Resource Stewardship)
