As water flows over land, it collects soil, pet wastes, fertilizers, oils and other pollutants. Even if your house is not near a stream, ditch or river, the runoff will flow down the street into a ditch or storm drain that will eventually empty into astream, taking soil and pollutants along with it.
By making wise decisions 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.
Protecting stormwater is important to municipalities .Lucas, Wood and Ottawa counties maintain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit through the Ohio EPA. Basically, a MS4 is the storm system that each county, on behalf of some smaller cities and villages, maintains on its own.
Citizens like you also have an important part to play in protecting stormwater. This site gives you the information and tools you need to have a positive impact on your stormwater system–because Lake Erie Starts Here!
By making wise decisions 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.
Protecting stormwater is important to municipalities .Lucas, Wood and Ottawa counties maintain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit through the Ohio EPA. Basically, a MS4 is the storm system that each county, on behalf of some smaller cities and villages, maintains on its own.
Citizens like you also have an important part to play in protecting stormwater. This site gives you the information and tools you need to have a positive impact on your stormwater system–because Lake Erie Starts Here!
Ways to Help
Leaf Collection
Leaves are a significant source of phosphorous. By cleaning them up before they reach out storm drains and waterways, we can reduce nutrient runoff and help prevent algal blooms.
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Pool DewateringAllowing chlorine to evaporate from your pool and draining it into a grassy area helps avoid unwanted chemicals from reaching our drains and ditches.
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Smart SaltingSalt is a necessary tool for melting ice in the winter. But using too much of it can lead it into our waterways where a single tablespoon of salt can pollute five gallons of water #SaltSmart
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FertilizerExcessive fertilizers use and nutrient runoff impact water everywhere. Find out how you can save time and money while making your lawn healthier and protecting our
local waterways |
Marine Debris
Marine debris, or waterway trash, is an ongoing issue locally and around the world. Find out how we have caused this issue and how we can reduce the amount of trash that ends up in our waterways and eventually into Lake Erie.
