Waste:
- Pick up and dispose of pet waste properly.
- Do not leave bagged poop on trails. During rain events it will flow directly to nearest waterway.
- Do not put leaves, cut grass, and other yard waste in or near storms drains.
Vehicles:
- Fix vehicle leaks
- Dispose of used motor oil and other car fluids at your local service station or the Household Hazardous Waste Facility (512)974 -4343
- Wash your vehicle where soap and water flows into grass, not the street, or use a carwash.
Lawns:
- Use fewer fertilizers, pesticides, and weed killers in your yard
- Plant native plants that will not need as much water and fertilizers.
Trash:
Start a fun habit of picking up 3 pieces of trash per day. 75% of trash in waterways came from land. Large trash can block storm drains causing flooding. For removal of bulky trash call 3-1-1.
NO. In Austin, the systems are separate and whatever enters the storm drains is discharged directly into a local creek, stream, river or lake not to a sewage treatment facility.
- Storm Drain Marking Volunteer Program
- Scoop the Poop Education
- Adopt A Creek https://keepaustinbeautiful.org/programs/adopt-a-creek/
- Sign up to receive a once a month email about volunteer opportunities in building Rainscapes, Grow Zones, Invasive Plants removal, and/or collecting aquatic macroinvertebrates here
- Report Pollution and Dumping to our Pollution Prevention Hotline (512)974-2550
Available anytime 24 hours a day 7 days a week
- Adopt a drain programs raise citizen awareness and empowers Austinites to take positive actions on behalf of their local waterways.
- People do not realize that “natural” debris like leaves, grass clippings, fertilizer or pet waste become pollution when they enter the water. Decaying leaves and grass release nutrients into the water that feeds excess growth of algae. Algae makes the water green and soupy, blocking sunlight and oxygen to native plants, fish, and wildlife that live on the bottom. When algae dies it creates a dead zone.
- Street flooding can be caused by and made worse by clogged drains.
- Educating your neighbors and volunteering with friends and family is fun!