Storm drains help prevent flooding by moving water off streets and out of neighborhoods. But unlike sanitary sewers, storm drains do not treat or filter water before it reaches nearby waterways. Anything that enters a storm drain – leaves, litter, motor oil or pet waste – can pollute local lakes and streams.

What You Can Do

• Never dump motor oil, chemicals, pet waste, dirty or soapy water, or anything else down the storm drain.
• Keep drains clear of leaves, grass clippings and trash.
• Volunteer to label storm drains with reminders like “Drains to Waterway.” Contact your local community to get involved.

You can have a watershed-friendly yard by choosing the right plants, practicing sustainable lawn care and managing stormwater on your property.

Use Native Plants

Native plants like Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), native ferns and grasses are built for Michigan’s climate. They need less water, naturally resist pests and grow deep root systems that stabilize soil, filter pollutants and absorb stormwater.

What You Can Do

• Plant a variety of native flowers, grasses, sedges, shrubs and trees.
• Install a rain garden to capture runoff from roofs and driveways.
• Use a rain barrel to collect roof runoff for watering plants.
• Add native vegetation near shorelines to slow runoff and filter pollutants.

Lawn Care

Too much fertilizer can wash into lakes and streams during rainstorms, fueling harmful algal blooms and reducing oxygen for fish and wildlife.

What You Can Do

• Water your lawn only when needed. Most lawns need 1 inch of water per week, including rainfall.
• Point sprinklers and downspouts toward grass or gardens instead of pavement.
• Keep fertilizer applications at least 20 feet away from any lake, stream or storm drain (the farther away the better).
• Use a slow-release fertilizer with little to no phosphorus.
• Sweep extra fertilizer, grass clippings or dirt from driveways back onto the lawn to return nutrients to the soil.
• Mow grass at least 3 inches high. Taller grass grows deeper roots, holds more water and shades out weeds.
• Leave grass clippings on the lawn to return nutrients naturally to the soil.
• Mulch leaves instead of raking them into the street.
• Place 4-inch-deep layers of mulch or leaves around trees and plants to lock in moisture and crowd out weeds.

Most of us pick up after our pets to be good neighbors and keep our yards clean. However, pet waste is a consistent source of pollution in local waterways because it contains harmful pathogens and excess nutrients.

What You Can Do

• Pick up pet waste promptly and dispose of it in the trash.
• Don’t feed waterfowl. Feeding waterfowl like ducks and geese creates a concentration of goose droppings near the shoreline, adding bacteria and nutrients straight to the water.
• Encourage your local park, neighborhood association or homeowner’s association to install dog waste bag dispensers and trash cans near walking paths and waterfront access points.

Oil leaks, spilled fluids and soapy water from washing cars, boats and other vehicles can flow into storm drains during rainstorms. With more than 4 million vehicles in Southeast Michigan, small spills add up quickly.

What You Can Do

• Use a commercial car wash when possible. Car washes perform on-site treatment to recycle water or send their used water to treatment facilities.
• Wash boats with plain water and a coarse cloth.
• Try natural cleaners like baking soda, borax and lemon or lime juice.
• Avoid solvent-based cleaners and use phosphate-free soaps.
• Use your owner's manual to keep your vehicle properly tuned and guide decisions about how often to change fluids such as oil and antifreeze.
• Have your vehicle serviced by a professional. They are required to properly recycle used materials and clean up accidental spills.
• Perform maintenance in a garage or carport. The cover keeps the next rain from washing any spills into the storm drain.
• Use kitty litter to absorb small spills. Sweep it up and throw it in the trash.
• Recycle oil and antifreeze at approved collection sites.
• Remove plants and organisms from boats before moving between waterways to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
• Use designated dump stations for RV waste. Find locations at RVDumps.com. 

Common household products like antifreeze, paint thinner, pesticides, bleach, pool chemicals, old gasoline and drain cleaner should never go in the trash. Many communities offer safe disposal programs for household hazardous waste. Learn more about collection events happening in Oakland County.

What You Can Do

• Read product labels carefully for use and disposal instructions.
• Purchase less toxic alternatives, like vinegar and water.
• Keep unused products in their original containers, with labels intact, in a cool, dry place away from kids, pets and heat.
• Contact your local community for disposal guidelines and locations.