Follow the tips below to stop small, individual activities that cause pollution and result in large-scale pollution. 10 Things You Can Do to Prevent Storm water Runoff Pollution:

1. Remember: Only rain belongs in the drain! Don’t dump anything down storm drains. Be sure to clear away leaves and debris.
2. Clean up pet waste. Bag up pet waste and dispose of it in the trash to prevent harmful bacteria from washing into local waterways.
3. Keep your car well-maintained. Fix any fluid leaks promptly and make sure to clean-up any spills.
4. Wash your car at a commercial car wash rather than in the street or in your driveway. If you wash your car at home, wash it on your lawn.
5. Direct downspouts away from paved surfaces; consider planting a rain garden or installing a rain barrel to collect the storm water.
6. Cut down on fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. If you use these chemicals, follow directions and use them sparingly. Don’t fertilize before a rainstorm.
7. Reduce impervious surfaces at home and increase the vegetated land cover of your property. Use bricks, gravel, cobbles, natural stone, or permeable pavers instead of asphalt or concrete when possible.
8. Do not drain your pool or hot tub to a storm drain. Allow chlorine to dissipate for several days and test the water to ensure the residual chlorine is zero before slowly draining to a landscaped area.
9. Walk, bike, or share a ride when possible. Driving causes particulates to enter our air. Air pollution can contaminate rain and end up in our rivers and streams.
10. Share your knowledge with your friends, colleagues and neighbors!

Many innovative techniques exist to capture, treat, infiltrate and/or reuse storm water runoff by using Green Infrastructure. These storm water management systems mimic nature by soaking up and storing water. Green Infrastructure designs can also provide other benefits, such as increased habitat, improved aesthetics, reduced heat island effect as well as recreational and educational opportunities.

Storm water is water from rain or melting snow that is not absorbed. It runs off the ground and paved surfaces before entering storm drains (grates on the road), where it makes its way into our waterways. As the runoff flows over land and impervious surfaces, it picks up trash, sediment, bacteria, heavy metals and other pollutants. Due to the high amount of impervious surfaces in Everett, storm water pollution is of high concern.

Everett maintains a street sweeping program which minimizes the amount of pollutants on the road that can get swept into stormdrains, including sediment, debris, trash, road salt, and trace metals. Street sweeping also improves the aesthetics of municipal roadways and controls dust.
The City of Everett has partnered with the Mystic River Watershed Association, a nonprofit organization, on projects to address water quality, promote green infrastructure and provide storm water education. Malden River Urban Waters Partnership

Who wants to live and recreate along a polluted river?
Storm water is not sent to a wastewater treatment plant, instead it flows untreated into the Mystic and Malden Rivers and other water bodies. Storm water picks up and carries numerous pollutants into our waterways, many of which can cause problems in very small amounts. Since polluted storm water runoff is caused by so many of our every day activities, we all need to work together to prevent it.