As rainfall and snowmelt drain from roadways, parking lots, sidewalks and rooftops it picks up and carries with it both natural and man-made pollutants. Eventually those pollutants can be deposited in local waterways.
Examples of man-made pollutants include motor oil, antifreeze, fertilizers, pesticides, soaps and detergents. Natural pollutants include animal waste, grass clippings and leaves. Discharge of some types of pollutants such as yard waste and fertilizers into local waterways serves to increase the amount of phosphorus in the water which leads to large algae blooms in the warm summer months.
Residents are reminded that disposal of chemicals into the storm sewer system is illegal and will cause damage to the environment such as poisoning fish, birds and other wildlife. In some instances, the illegally discharged chemicals can find their way into private and public drinking water supplies. Grass clippings, silt, litter and other types of organic matter that are allowed to wash into the storm sewer system can cause blockages and lead to flooding issues.
During the summer of 2019, Public Works personnel began marking catch basin inlets throughout the Town with the stencil below to remind residents about illegal disposal into the storm sewer system.
The Town is an active partner with:
Please see their websites for small daily acts you can do do renew our waters. Every choice counts.