Like a certain celebrity couple with 8 kids, our city’s sewer system can only handle so much. Especially when heavy rain moves in, it’s prime time for flooding. But don’t just runoff and do nothing. Help alleviate strain on storm sewers and prevent pollutants from seeping into our waterways with these tips, courtesy of the Indianapolis Department of Public Works.

• Limit laundry, dishwasher use, flushing and showering during heavy rain. Indy’s wastewater treatment plants can only handle so much before they overflow into our waterways.
• Clear debris, trash, and leaves away from storm drain grates on and near your property. Excessive leaves really muck up the wastewater treatment process.
• Get your neighbors to help you clear blockages from neighborhood creeks and ditches.
• Pick up the poo. Cleaning up your pet’s waste keeps it out of our waterways.
• Increase the amount of vegetated area in your yard and decrease paved surfaces to help reduce runoff.
• Use a car wash instead of washing your car in your driveway to help prevent excess wastewater, contaminants, and detergents from entering our waterways.
• Harvest your own water supply by using a rain barrel.
• Dispose of paint, motor oil, and other household hazardous materials at a ToxDrop.
• Call the Mayor’s Action Center at 327-4MAC (4622) to report illegal dumping in waterways.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 5:46 pm and is filed under At home. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.