Keep Stormwater Clean

• Sweep walks and driveways instead of hosing them down. Soil, grit, and debris from paved surfaces often contain contaminants that pollute water.
• Wash vehicles on grass or gravel areas to prevent wash water from running into storm drains. Wash water can contain oils and detergents that harm water quality.
• Maintain vehicles as leaking oil contains toxic metals. Rain picks up these materials and carries them to streams, lakes, and wetlands where they pollute water and harm fish.
• Recycle used motor oil and dispose of household hazardous waste properly. Call 206-296-4692 or 1-800-RECYCLE for information on nearby recycling or disposal sites. Never dump oil or other hazardous wastes down a storm drain or pour them on the ground.
• Use safe, non-toxic solutions to manage plant problems. For information about effective ways to manage pests without toxic chemicals, call 425-430-7396.
• Preserve vegetation as plants filter pollutants from runoff and prevent erosion. Plants near waterways provide habitat for fish and wildlife and shield streams from extreme temperatures.
• Control animal access to streams as animal waste degrades water quality and livestock can trample and erode stream banks.
• Build a rain garden(PDF, 19MB) that acts like a native forest by collecting, absorbing, and filtering stormwater runoff from rooftops, driveways, patios, and other areas that do not allow water to soak in.

• Buy low phosphate detergents.
• Put trash in garbage cans.