How to Reduce Stormwater Runoff Around Your Home

Here in the Northwest, we love our rivers. We expect them to be clean so that we can fish, raft, boat and swim in them, knowing we are not putting ourselves or our loved ones at risk. Many of us rely on rivers for our drinking water and livelihoods. Yet every major river in Oregon is violating Clean Water Act standards.

Why? Because the millions of human residents of Oregon and SW Washington forget to consider their impact on the river in their daily actions. Most clean water regulations focus on reducing pollution from big sources such as factories and sewage treatment plants. But the behavior of each resident of the watershed is very important as well.

One of the most important things that you can do to help make our watersheds healthier is to reduce stormwater runoff.

Surfaces such as asphalt, concrete and rooftops prevent water from seeping into the ground. Instead they force it to flow along the surface, picking up dirt and contaminants. The water then flows into storm drains under streets, which usually dump directly into rivers, pollution and all. This runoff degrades water quality and makes it hard for fish to breathe. It also increases the risk of flooding downstream, as more and more water is directed into rivers instead of into the ground. Here is how you can reduce runoff:

Minimize pavement everywhere you have any influence such as at home, at work, and in neighborhood parks. Unless you’re a city planner, the easiest way to do this is at home. If you’re thinking about putting in a paved surface on your property, consider using porous surfaces.

• Fact: Nationwide, pavement covers 50% to 75% of most urban areas.
  

Select porous products for your driveway, yard and landscaping. Porous asphalt is available, and bricks, stones and cinder blocks can let water seep into the ground around them.

Stabilize your soil. Make sure that bare dirt is not exposed during the wet season. Use plants for long-term stabilization, and straw, mulch, or plastic sheeting to temporarily protect exposed areas.

Disconnect the downspouts on your home's rain gutters. Leave the gutters on, but direct the downspout into your yard rather than the sewer system. Be sure to first check with your Planning Department and see if this is legal in your area.

Sweep patios and sidewalks rather than hosing them. Hosing wastes water and carries contaminants into rivers.

Landscape with native plants instead of grass. This will reduce your yard's water needs. This will also attract wildlife such as birds and butterflies.

Reduce pesticide use. Pesticides are the only substances intentionally introduced into our environment to kill living things. They can be dangerous to people, pets and wildlife. Although farmers use more total pounds of pesticides than homeowners, they use much less per acre than urban residents.

Be careful with fertilizers. This includes natural fertilizers like compost and manure. While they are not as toxic as pesticides, fertilizers can hurt fish and wildlife by overwhelming streams with unusually high nutrient levels. U.S. Geological Survey studies have found residues from 50 different pesticides in the Willamette watershed. Other watersheds have similar problems.

Start a compost pile. Composting yard and kitchen scraps keeps waste out of landfills, and provides a safer source of nutrients for your garden.

Clean up animal waste in your yard and elsewhere to prevent it from washing into streams and contaminating water which others may drink or swim in.