What can you do to help keep Northglenn’s water clean?
When water from snowmelt, rain or overflow runs off in Northglenn, it flows over impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, streets and parking lots. The water picks up pollutants such as debris, chemicals, dirt and more and carries them to creeks, irrigation laterals and drinking water sources through storm drain systems or overland flow. The pollution then ends up in water sources used for swimming, fishing and drinking water.
It’s important everyone work together to keep runoff water clean. These tips will help you protect our water resources.
The Great Outdoors
• Excess lawn, plant and insect chemicals can wash off and be carried to water sources, resulting in the pollution of that water. Use only the recommended amount for application on your property to avoid unabsorbed excesses.
• Avoid dumping or sweeping loose yard clippings and leaves into curbs and hard surfaces where moisture will cause polluted runoff. Bag, compost or mulch yard waste.
• Keep piles of leaves, mulch or dirt covered to avoid being blown or carried into storm drain systems or streets.
• Use a broom and dustpan to clean driveways, sidewalks and hard surface areas. Not only will it save water, it will also help keep polluted water from entering city water ways.
Designing Outdoor Spaces
• Consider permeable pavement systems that allow rain and snowmelt to soak through sidewalks, driveways and hard surface landscaping.
• Design areas in your landscape that provide natural places for rainwater to collect and soak into the ground. Through careful planning, water from your rooftop or hard surfaces can be diverted to the planting areas. Not only is it good for water quality, it is also a water saver, too!
• Plant areas of native grass and/or plants along roadways, driveways or water sources to trap pollutants that stormwater picks up as it flows across hard surfaces.
Clean Up After Your Animals
Pet and animal waste is a major source of bacteria. Clean up after your pet and dispose of all waste appropriately. Avoid washing animal waste into storm drain systems, streets and/or curbs to keep it from draining into water sources.
Driving Clean
Automobiles are expensive, and most people spend a great amount of time maintaining this large investment. Washing your car, inside and out, can pass more than dirt into water sources. Detergent, degreaser, automotive fluids and even wax residue can pollute creek, irrigation and water sources.
• Some commercial car washes treat or recycle wastewater. Find out if your local car wash has this environmentally-friendly process.
• If you prefer to wash your car at home, wash it on your lawn to allow the water to infiltrate into the ground.
• Many car owners do their own car repairs, including changing the oil and fluids. Take care to ensure that none of these fluids are washed into the street or storm drain system. Doing so is like draining the car fluids directly into the city’s water ways.
• If your car leaks, don’t wash the oil or auto fluid down the driveway and into the street. Use kitty litter or sawdust to soak up the liquid, then sweep up the solids and dispose of them in the trash.
• Repair leaks, and take old auto fluids and batteries to appropriate disposal sites. Some auto care centers accept used oil and antifreeze – check with local stores.
Follow these quick and easy tips and help keep the city’s water ways clean.