When we think of water pollution, the first image that comes to mind are industrial or agricultural sources. But our neighborhoods and cities contribute heavily to water pollution in the form of lawn fertilizers, pesticides, pet waste, oil & antifreeze washing off roads, and from our rooftops. Thought the individual contribution may be small, mutiplied by several hundred thousand residents creates a major Non-Source Point (NSP) or distributed source of water pollution. NSP now rivals industrial discharges and agricultural runoff as the leading pollution issue facing our watersheds.
But there are things urban dwellers can do to mitigate this damage, beginning with changing some simple household habits:
- Vehicles that leak oil, antifreeze, transmission or brake fluid
- Large paved areas or impervious surfaces that drain directly to streets
- or storm drains
- Downspouts or drain pipes that empty water into the street or storm
- sewer system
- Yard clippings, fertilizer, or pesticide left on streets and sidewalks
- Pet or animal waste left in the street, on sidewalks or on the ground
- Storm drain used to dispose of yard waste or chemicals