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Prevent Pollution

Only Rain Down the Storm Drain

ONLY RAIN DOWN THE STORM DRAIN

Help keep Arlington’s streams and environment clean! Only let rain in the storm drain.

Rain from roads, roofs, driveways, parking lots, and backyards runs off into storm drains. This runoff is not treated. Storm drain pipes carry runoff directly to the nearest neighborhood stream.

Keep litter, dog waste, soil, grass clippings, leaves, salt, and wash water out of the storm drains. If it’s on the street, it’s in the stream.

Pick Up Pet Waste

Pet waste belongs in the trash, not on the ground. Pet waste contains twice as much bacteria per gram than human waste. In your yard, in natural areas, in the dog park – wherever you are, pick up the poop and put it in the trash.

Minimize Fertilizer, Pesticide and Herbicide Use

Minimize or eliminate the use of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Never apply these chemicals before rain is forecast.

Reduce Runoff and Prevent Erosion

Slow it down, spread it out, soak it in! Capture the rain with rain barrels, rain gardens, permeable pavers, cisterns, conservation landscaping and more.

Car Wash & Power Wash – Without Harming Streams

At commercial car washes, the dirt, grime, brake dust and soapy wash water is treated but it is not treated at your home. Keep dirty, sudsy water from car or power washing out of the storm drain and local streams.

Swimming Pools

Pool water kills fish in our streams when discharged improperly. Follow the guidelines for the stream-safe way to release your pool water.

Winter Salt Smart: This Winter, Use Less Salt

In Arlington, we are watching our winter salt use – here’s how you can too. Shovel early, Treat wisely, Sweep and reuse. When we use less salt, we protect our plants, pets, streams, and drinking water sources.

Home Improvement Cleanup

Before starting a home improvement project, plan where you or your contractor will clean up. Always rinse dirty paint brushes or wash water *indoors* in a utility sink. Dry materials can be disposed of in the trash. Paint, grout, mortar, wash water or any other material should never be washed into the street or storm drain.

Electronics, Paint and Household Hazardous Waste

E-CARE and the Household Hazardous Materials Facility provide Arlingtonians with safe options to dispose of numerous hazardous materials including chemicals and paint.

Protect Your Pipes from Fats, Oils & Grease

Fats, oil, grease, and wipes belong in the trash. They can clog pipes and cause a sewage backup that will end up in our streams.

Don't Let Your Spring Cleaning Turn Into Stream Pollution

Spring is here and many Arlingtonians will take the opportunity to begin spring cleaning, home improvement and maintenance, and to start preparing for warmer weather. Each spring, Arlington’s Pollution Prevention team also sees an uptick in reports of stream pollution connected to these activities. Here are some tips for how to keep your spring cleaning from turning into stream pollution.

Prevent Pollution from Construction Sites

Keep sediment on site and construction materials out of the storm drain. Learn about best practices to prevent pollution from construction sites with photo examples of correct and incorrect implementation.

Arlington Golf Courses: Strategies for Protecting Water Quality

Local golf courses are taking steps to help benefit the environment: Nutrient and Pest Management Plans, preventing erosion, careful weather monitoring, non-native invasive plant control and more.

For Restaurants and Other Businesses

Close the lid! Keep dumpster and grease container lids closed to avoid trash from blowing out and from filling with rain water.

If you spill outside, clean it up using dry clean up methods. Sweep up and/or use absorbent materials, but NEVER hose the spill off into a storm drain.

Arlington County is happy to provide its businesses with the materials shown here as reminders of best practices to avoid polluting our waterways. Contact Lily Whitesell to request copies.

Keep wash water and grease out of storm drains (PDF, 5MB) (PDF, 11MB) Pollution Prevention Inspection Checklist for Businesses