Public Works

In Your Home & Yard

Although the amount of polluted runoff from one home may be small, the cumulative effects of neighborhoods, town and cities can be significant for local creeks and rivers. Any step you take to decrease polluted runoff from your home and landscaping makes a difference!

Do this today:

• Check the area where you store your home and garden chemicals. Are the containers properly sealed and free from leaks? Are the chemicals stored in a clean, dry place?
• Read the labels on each of your fertilizer, pesticide and cleaning products. Are you using the right chemicals, in the proper concentrations? Are you disposing of the empty containers properly?
• If you haven’t used all of the product, dispose of it at a Household Hazardous Waste day, not in the garbage. NEVER pour chemicals in the toilet, on the ground or down any drain.
• At the store, consider all the products available and choose the one that will do the job with the least amount of pollutants or toxic chemicals. For safer products for specific pests, visit UC Integrated Pest Management, the California Environmental Protection Agency, the State Water Resource Board's Homeowner's Outreach or your city.
• If you use automatic sprinklers, check to be sure you are not overwatering. Overwatering leads to runoff. Visit H20House for all you need to know about indoor and outdoor water efficiency!
• Where possible, choose alternatives to pesticides, such as resistant plants, biological controls (like ladybugs to control aphids) or physical controls (like traps or barriers). These options have the added advantage of being child- and pet-friendly, as well. Find out more at the UC Davis Integrated Pest Management Web site or the Our Water, Our World Web site.
• Visit your local University of California Cooperative Extension office or your local nursery to get answers to your specific home or landscape questions.
• Wash your car on your lawn or another surface where water will not run off into the street, or use an automatic car wash that recycles its water. If you must wash your car in the driveway or the street, use biodegradable soap.
• Find more home and landscaping tips at About.com.

Do this over time:

• When planning new landscaping, consider the amount and placement of impermeable services (such as decks, patios, driveways, etc.). If you can surround impermeable surfaces with native grasses or rock beds, you can reduce the amount of pollutants flowing to the street from your property.
• Always choose plants that are native to the area and appropriate for the spot in your landscape. They have a better chance of survival without chemicals, plus are more resistant to pests and disease. For more on choosing plants, visit your county’s University of California Cooperative Extension office or your local nursery.
• Find more home and landscaping tips at About.com.