Contact Info
Water Resources Commissioner
248-858-1066
One Public Works Drive
Building 95W
Waterford, MI 48328-1907
Emergency After Hours: 248-624-6366
8:00am - 4:30pm
Seven Simple Steps to Clean Water
What's the Issue?
Storm drains lead directly to our lakes and streams. So, any oil, pet waste, leaves, or dirty water from washing your car that enters a storm drain gets into our lakes and streams. With almost five million people living in Southeast Michigan, we all need to be aware of what goes into our storm drains. Remember that only rain should go in the drain!
What Are Some Helpful Tips?
Here are some simple steps you can take to help keep pollutants out of storm drains and keep our water clean. Give them a try. A few simple changes can make a big difference!
- Sweep it
Do you have extra fertilizer, grass clippings, or dirt on your driveway? Sweep it back onto your lawn. Hosing your driveway sends these pollutants into storm drains. - Keep it clean
Whether in the street or in your yard, remember to keep leaves, grass clippings, trash, and fertilizers out of storm drains. - Only rain in the drain
Never dump motor oil, chemicals, pet waste, dirty or soapy water, or anything else down the storm drain. All of these materials pollute our lakes and streams. - Label it
Volunteer to label storm drains in your neighborhood to inform residents that storm drains flow directly to our lakes and streams. Encourage citizens to contact their local community for more information on storm drain stenciling programs.
What's the Issue?
Storm drains found in our streets and our yards empty into our lakes and streams. So, when we fertilize our lawn we could also be fertilizing our lakes and streams. While fertilizer is good for our lawn, unfortunately it's bad for our water. Fertilizer in our lakes and streams causes algae to grow. This can cause large algal blooms to form, using up oxygen that fish need to survive. With a majority of the 1.5 million homes in Southeast Michigan fertilizing their lawn, all of us need to be aware of the impacts of our lawn care practices.
What Can You Do?
Here are some simple steps you can take to help keep our water clean. Give them a try. A few simple changes can make a big difference! Plus, you'll save time and money in the process. The Southeastern Oakland County Water Authority (SOCWA) Healthy Lawns and Gardens program has a wealth of information for homeowners.
- Go slow
Select an organic or slow release fertilizer. Check the label. A slow release fertilizer has at least half of the nitrogen in water insoluble form. These fertilizers gradually release nitrogen to plant roots. This provides a steady supply of plant nutrients over an extended period of time. Because you need less fertilizer, you will save time and money. - Buy low
Select a fertilizer with low or no phosphorus. Most lawns already contain enough phosphorus. Excess phosphorus is the primary culprit of algal blooms in our lakes. The SOCWA Healthy Lawns and Gardens Technical Committee has developed a list of recommended fertilizers. - Mow high
Make your lawn cheaper and easier to maintain by mowing high (three inches is recommended). Tall grass promotes root growth and shades out weeds. Let short clips fall back on the lawn. Clippings recycle nitrogen back into the soil, so fertilizer can be reduced by 25 percent or more. - Sweep it
Fertilizer left on sidewalks and driveways will easily wash into storm drains. So, save money and our lakes and streams by sweeping fertilizer back onto the lawn. - Soil Test
A soil test will tell you what, if any, fertilizer is needed in your yard. Contact the Oakland County Michigan State University Extension office at 248-858-0902 or on the MSU Extension website for more information. - Make fertilizer-free zones
Keep fertilizer applications at least 20 feet away from the edge of lakes, streams or storm drains. There are many ways waterfront property owners can protect our waterways. Learn more about the Healthy Habits for Clean Water. - Hire smart
Select a lawn service that uses organic fertilizers or offers a slow release nitrogen, low phosphorus option. SOCWA has developed a guide for selecting a lawn service.
What's the Issue?
Antifreeze, household cleaners, gasoline, pesticides, oil paints, solvents and motor oil are just some of the common household products that can enter our storm drains. Help keep these out of our lakes and streams. Instead of putting these items in the trash, down the storm drain, or on the ground, take them to a local hazardous waste center or collection day. The Alliance of Rouge Communities Resource Recovery Guide: A Citizen's Guide for Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste Disposal is intended to help residents with recycling and disposal of household wastes.
What Are Some Helpful Tips?
Here are some simple steps you can take to carefully dispose of household waste and help keep our water clean. Give them a try. A few simple changes can make a big difference!
- Identify it
Be aware of household products that can harm children, pets, and the environment. The words danger, caution, warning, or toxic indicates that you need to be careful in how you use and dispose of the product. - Less is better
Reduce waste and save money by purchasing only the materials you need. When possible, choose less toxic alternatives. For example, try cleaning your windows with vinegar and water. - Store properly
Keep unused products in their original containers with labels intact. Select cool, dry storage areas that are away from children, pets and wildlife. - Disposal is key
Never dump motor oil, chemicals, and other toxic materials down storm drains, sinks or on the ground. Contact your local community for disposal locations, guidelines and dates. - Don't forget the RV
Dispose of recreational vehicle sanitary waste at a nearby drop-off location. Never put it down a storm drain or in a roadside ditch! For more information on locations and requirements go to RVDumps.com.
What's the Issue?
Most of us pick up after our pets to be a good neighbor and to keep our yard clean. But there's another important reason. Pet waste contains bacteria that are harmful to us and our water. Leaving it on the sidewalk or lawn means harmful bacteria will be transported into the storm drains and then into our lakes and streams.
What Are Some Helpful Tips?
Here are some simple steps you can take to carefully dispose of pet waste and help keep our water clean. Give them a try. A few simple changes can make a big difference!
- Dispose of it promptly and properly
Promptly dispose of your pet's waste in the trash or down the toilet where it will be properly treated. When pet waste is left behind, it washes into storm drains and ditches. From there it heads straight to your local lakes and streams taking harmful bacteria with it. - Watch instead of feeding
Feeding ducks and geese may seem harmless, but in fact can be a nuisance to people and harmful to our water. Feeding waterfowl causes them to become dependent on humans. This, in turn, creates unnaturally high populations and problems in our parks and lakes. Waterfowl waste can pollute our water with harmful bacteria. - Spread the word
Tell others how they can help protect our lakes and streams. Also, work cooperatively with your local government to install signs, bag dispensers, and trash cans in convenient public places to remind visitors to clean up after their pets.
What's the Issue?
Did you know there are over four million vehicles in Southeast Michigan? So, practicing good car care means you are helping protect our lakes and streams. How does caring for your car affect our lakes and streams? Storm drains found in our streets and roadside ditches lead to our lakes and streams. So, if dirty or soapy water from washing our cars washes into the storm drain, it pollutes our local waterways. Likewise, if your vehicle leaks motor fluids on the street or driveway, that too can wash into the storm drain and pollute our local waterways.
What Are Some Helpful Tips?
Here are some simple steps you can take to care for your car and help keep our water clean. Give them a try. A few simple changes can make a big difference!
- Make a date
Car wash facilities treat their dirty water before discharging it to our lakes and streams. So, make a date to take your car to a car wash. - Wash it on the grass
If you wash your car at home, consider washing it on the lawn it acts as a filter. If you can't use the lawn, try to direct the dirty water towards the lawn and away from the storm drain. - Minimize it
Reduce the amount of soap you use or wash your car with plain water. - Maintain it
Keep your vehicle properly tuned and use the owner's manual to guide decisions about how often it is necessary to change fluids such as oil and antifreeze. - Take advantage of business expertise
Consider taking your vehicle to the shop to have the oil and other fluids changed. These businesses have the ability to recycle the used materials and clean up accidental spills. - Recycle
If you choose to change your oil and other fluids yourself, label the waste containers. Then, take them to your community's household hazardous waste collection day or to a business that accepts used oil. Never dump used oil, antifreeze, or other fluids on the ground or down the storm drain. - Soak it up
Use kitty litter promptly to absorb small amounts of spilled vehicle fluids. Then sweep it into a bag and throw it in the trash. - Do it under cover
Whenever possible, perform vehicle maintenance in a well-ventilated, but covered location (e.g., garage). This minimizes the potential for rainfall to wash those inevitable spills and drips into our lakes and streams.
What's the Issue?
When landscaping your yard you can protect your kids, pets, and the environment from harm by choosing plants that are native to Michigan and by practicing good lawn-care practices, you can help prevent pollution of our lakes and streams.
What Are Some Helpful Tips?
Here are some simple steps you can take to landscape and maintain a healthy yard and help keep our water clean. Give them a try. A few simple changes can make a big difference!
- Mow high
Make your lawn cheaper and easier to maintain by mowing high (three inches or more is recommended). Taller grass requires less water, promotes root growth and shades out weeds. - Use mulch
Place a thick layer of mulch (e.g., four inches) around trees and plants. This helps retain water, reduce weeds and minimize the need for pesticides. - Go native
Select plants native to Michigan. Native plants are better equipped to tolerate Michigan's climate, require less fertilizing and are more disease resistant. - What plants are native to Michigan?
Some examples include:- Black-eyed Susan, Coral Bells, Purple Coneflower and Columbine
- Blueberry and Raspberry Bushes
- Christmas, Lady and Maidenhair Ferns
- Black Walnut, Hickory, Douglas Fir and White Pine Trees
- Variety is the spice of life
Using a wide variety of plants helps control pests and minimizes the need for pesticides. - Water wisely
Generally, your lawn needs about an inch of water a week. Over-watering lawns results in shallow-rooted plants that are less tolerant of heat and drought, and more prone to disease. Avoid over-watering by using a rain gauge and watering only when necessary, instead of using a fixed schedule. - Use less for pests
Pesticides and herbicides can be harmful to our kids, pets and the environment. So, use pesticides and herbicides sparingly. Limit applications to problem areas instead of applying to the entire area (e.g., weed and feed). - Rake it or leave it
Follow the guidelines in your community for leaf pick-up. Never rake leaves into or near storm drains, ditches, or streams. Decaying leaves use up the water's oxygen, harming fish and the aquatic insects that fish depend on to survive. Better yet, mow leaves into your lawn. Leaves and grass clippings are good fertilizers for your lawn.
What's the Issue?
Did you know that individually we use about 77 gallons of water each day? When we over-water our lawns, that process can easily carry pollution to the storm drains and then to our lakes and streams. By using less water on our lawns we can help prevent some of this pollution. And remember, saving water also saves money!
What Are Some Helpful Tips?
Here are some simple steps you can take use less water to maintain a healthy lawn and help keep our water clean. Give them a try. A few simple changes can make a big difference!
- Water wisely
Generally, your lawn needs about an inch of water a week. Over-watering lawns results in shallow-rooted plants that are less tolerant of heat and drought, and more prone to disease. Avoid over-watering by using a rain gauge and watering only when necessary, instead of using a fixed schedule. - Improve your aim
Adjust your sprinklers to water only your lawn and plants - not your driveway, sidewalk, or street. - Use mulch
Place a thick layer of mulch (e.g., four inches) around trees and plants. This helps retain water, reduce weeds, and minimize the need for pesticides. - Sweep it
Clean sidewalks and driveways with a broom, instead of a hose. You'll save water and keep unwanted pollutants out of the storm drain. - Put rainwater to work
Use rainwater to water your plants. Direct downspouts toward your plants and green areas or collect water with rain barrels for use later. - Mow high
Make your lawn cheaper and easier to maintain by mowing high (three inches or more is recommended). Longer grass has deeper roots and requires less water.
Contact Info
Water Resources Commissioner
248-858-1066
One Public Works Drive
Building 95W
Waterford, MI 48328-1907
Emergency After Hours: 248-624-6366
8:00am - 4:30pm