CITIZENS FOR A HEALTHY BAY

Be Part of the Solution….Prevent Water Pollution!

The Puget Sound is being polluted. Everyday there are contaminants washing into our rivers, streams and bays. These pollutants are not just from industries and wastewater treatment plants, they are from us. They come from many sources, such as oil leaks from cars, pet waste, fertilizers, pesticides, yard waste, and litter to name a few. The rain we love so dearly is washing many of these pollutants into the storm drains, which discharges directly into the nearest body of water without being treated for contaminants. These containments are a huge part of the pollution entering Puget Sound. We make decisions everyday that affect the amount of pollutants that run off into our waterways.

Here are a few ways to make a difference in water quality in your area.

1. Don’t work on your car in the street or near a storm drain, practice spill prevention
when changing car fluids and fix any leaks on your car.

2. Either wash your car at a car wash, which recycles the wash water, or wash it in the lawn or gravel. This water can contain detergents, metals from brake pads and oils which can wash into nearby rivers and streams. Use phosphate free soaps.

3. Recycle car fluids, tires, batteries, used oil and antifreeze.

4. Use natural alternatives to chemicals in your lawn and gardens, such as soil amendments and ladybugs. If you do use pesticides and fertilizers don’t over apply chemicals to your lawn.

5. Reduce the paved areas around your home, which allows rain water to runoff into the storm drains. Instead use pavers, bricks or alternate paving techniques which let the rain water infiltrate into the ground.

6. Install a rain garden which can capture stormwater runoff and filter pollutants from driveways and lawns. For more information on rain garden benefits and installation please visit the following website: http://www.pierce.wsu.edu/Water_Quality/LID/index.htm.

7. Use native plants when landscaping, which require less water and are more pest resistant.

8. Clean up your pet waste.

9. Ride a bicycle, walk or carpool as an alternative to driving.

10. Don’t dispose of anything in the storm drains.

11. Keep you eyes open for signs of pollution. If you spot someone dumping into a storm drain, an oil spill on the street or sediment runoff from a construction site contact our pollution hotline at (253) 383-2429 or (253) 255-3895.
For more information on pollution prevention please visit the City of Tacoma Website: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=931