What is Stormwater?
Stormwater is rain that falls on roofs or paved
areas like driveways and roads. This water is
carried away by a system of stormwater pipes
that is separate from the sewage system. It
soon reaches our rivers and eventually the
ocean. We can help prevent stormwater
pollution from ruining our waterways by taking
steps to stop detergents, paints, leaves,
cigarette butts and other litter from ending up
in our gutters and drains. Gutters and drains
carry the rainwater from our streets straight
into the surrounding lakes and rivers. So when
it rains, stormwater runoff can carry pollutants
from around our homes and streets to the
waterways where we swim, boat, and fish. The
surrounding plants and animals also live in this
water.
10 Things You Can Do to Prevent
Stormwater Pollution
1. Never dump anything on the street,
down a storm drain or in a drainage
ditch.
2. Scoop up after your pet. Bag it and
throw it away in the trash.
3. Compost grass clippings and leaves or
bag them for curbside collection.
4. Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly.
Do not apply on paved areas.
5. Check your vehicles for leaks and repair
them.
6. Reduce, reuse and recycle the amount
of cleaning and maintenance chemicals
used at home.
7. Recycle motor oil and other vehicle
fluids.
8. Throw litter in its place.
9. Wash cars at a commercial car wash or
on a grassy area, not your driveway.
10. Tell a friend or neighbor about how to
prevent stormwater pollution and get
involved.
Why Should You Care?
Imagine no longer being able to fish,
swim or wade through your favorite
stream, river or lake. It might surprise
you, but many waters in the area are
degraded due to polluted stormwater
runoff.
Each time it rains, the resulting
stormwater runoff picks up debris such
as litter, pesticides, chemicals, motor oil
and dirt as it flows across the rooftops
and lawns, streets and parking lots.
These pollutants are deposited,
untreated, into our waterways.
Increased runoff from developed areas
can also cause flooding and erosion of
stream banks, which creates even more
sediment that, enters our streams.
Stormwater pollution can make
monitoring and treatment of our
drinking water difficult and costly. In
addition, it can hinder the health of the
aquatic ecosystem. If polluted
stormwater contaminates our water
resources, the result can be the closing
of our rivers, lakes and streams to the
public.
How to Protect Stormwater
Quality....
The best way to protect stormwater runoff
quality is to avoid polluting in the first place.

Conserve and recycle resources such as
newspapers, plastic containers, glass
jars, and metal cans.

Don’t dump hazardous substances such
as used oil, household chemicals, yard
fertilizer, or other wastes onto
pavement or into storm drains.

Practice picking up litter and disposing
of leaves and yard waste properly.
Prevent excess runoff of pesticides,
fertilizers, and herbicides by using them
properly and efficiently.
Participate in local garbage and debris
pickup days, and recycle household
hazardous waste materials to prevent
storm drain contamination.



Encourage active citizen participation in
stormwater protection and public group
education on stormwater quality.
Contact Information
University of Toledo
Environmental Health and Radiation Safety
Tim Niederkorn-Environmental Specialist
1150E Transportation Center, Mail Stop
#219
419.704.1576
timothy.niederkorn@utoledo.edu