SOLUTIONS TO STORMWATER POLLUTION

Easy Things You Can Every Day To Protect Our Water

A Guide to Healthy Habits for Clean Water-

Pollution on streets, parking lots and lawns is washed into storm drains, then directly to our drinking water supplies and the streams, lakes and ocean our children play in. Fertilizer, oil, pesticides, detergents, pet waste, grass clippings: You name it and it ends up in our water.

Stormwater pollution is one of Ringwood's and New Jersey's greatest threats to clean and plentiful water, and that's why Ringwood and New Jersey are doing something about it.

By sharing responsibility and making small, easy changes in our daily lives, we can keep common pollutants out of stormwater. It all adds up to cleaner water, and it saves the high cost of cleaning up once it's dirty.

As part of New Jersey's initiative to keep our water clean and plentiful and to meet federal requirements, many municipalities and other public agencies, including colleges and military bases must adopt ordinances or other rules prohibiting various activities that contribute to stormwater pollution. Breaking these rules can result in fines or penalties.

As a resident, business or other member of the New Jersey community, it is important to know these easy things you can do every day to protect our water.

Limit the use of fertilizers and pesticides:

• Do a soil test to see if you need a fertilizer
• Do not apply fertilizers if heavy rain is predicted
• Look into alternatives for pesticides
• Maintain a small lawn and keep the rest of your property or yard in a natural state with trees and other native vegetation that requires little or no fertilizer
• If you use fertilizers and pesticides, follow the instructions on the label on how to apply it correctly
• Make sure you properly store and discard any unused portions

Properly use and dispose of hazardous products:

• Hazardous products include some household or commercial cleaning products, lawn and garden care products, motor oil, antifreeze and paints
• Do not pour any hazardous products down a storm drain because storm drains are usually connected to local waterbodies and the water is not treated
• If you have hazardous products in your home or workplace, make sure you store or dispose of them properly. read the labels for guidance
• Use natural or less toxic alternatives when possible
• Recycle used motor oil
• Contact your municipality, county or facility management office for the locations of hazardous-waste disposal facilities

Keep pollution out of storm drains:

• Municipalities and many other public agencies are required to mark certain storm drain inlets with messages reminding people that storm drains are connected to local waterbodies
• Do not let sewage or other wastes flow into a stormwater system

Clean up after your pet:

• Many municipalities and public agencies must enact and enforce local pet-waste rules
• An example is requiring pet owners or their keepers to pick up and properly dispose of pet waste dropped on public or other people's property
• Make sure you know your town's or agency's requirements and comply with them. It's the law. And remember to:
•         Use newspapers, bags or pooper scoopers to pick up waste
•         Dispose of the wrapped pet waste in the trash or un-wrapped in a toilet
•         Never Discard pet waste in a storm drain

Don't feed wildlife:

• Do not feed wildlife, such as ducks and geese in public areas
• Many municipalities and other public agencies must enact and enforce a rule that prohibits wildlife feeding in these areas

Don't litter:

• Place litter in trash receptacles
• Recycle. Recycle. Recycle
• Participate in community cleanups

Dispose of yard waste properly:

• Keep leaves and grass out of storm drains
• If your municipality or agency has yard waste collection rules, follow them
• Use leaves and grass clippings as a resource for compost
• Use a mulching mower that recycles grass clippings into the lawn

Contact Information:

For more information on stormwater related topics, visit www.njstormwater.org or www.nonpointsource.org.

Additional information is also available at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Web Sites www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater or www.epa.gov/nps

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection                                                                                           Division of Water Quality                                                                                                                                  Bureau of Nonpoint Pollution Control                                                                                                                     Municipal Stormwater Regulation Program                                                                                                              609-633-7021