How You Can Help

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

Ways You Can Help Eliminate Stormwater Pollution:

Maintain your vehicles, so they do not leak oil or other fluids.
Wash your car on the grass or at a car wash so the soap and dirt do not run down the driveway and into the storm drain.
Do not over fertilize your lawn.
Do not apply fertilizer or pesticides before a forecasted heavy rain.
When fertilizers or pesticides fall on the driveway, sweep them instead of hosing them off.
Mulch grass clippings and put leaves in paper bags at the curb for pickup. Please know your week for free yard waste pickup.
Pet owners should pick up pet waste even in their own yards and dispose of it in the trash.
Never put anything in the storm drains or ditches, not even yard clippings.
Never raise flowerbeds around impervious areas as this will increase both stormwater runoff and the need for watering the plants.
- Many times, the mulch will wash into the stormwater system during heavy rains.

You can help protect our environment and the bodies of water around us by reducing the amount of stormwater runoff. The use of rain barrels, rain gardens, and pervious surfaces are the best ways.

Rain Barrels

rain barrel

Rain barrels are an old idea with a new following. They aid in reducing stormwater runoff that carries fertilizers, pesticides, pet waste, cleaning agents, oils, and other pollutants to our stream's rivers and oceans.

Rain barrels also help conserve water by capturing rainwater from roofs and using it to irrigate flowers, plants and lawns. Electronics have come a long way and off the shelf equipment can monitor soil conditions and control the flow of water from the rain barrels or larger cistern systems relatively inexpensive.

If you are interested in purchasing rain barrels, you can contact New Hanover County by clicking here for more information.

Rain Gardens

Rain gardens combine beauty and functionality. Rain gardens use stormwater runoff as the water supply. The landscaping can be altered to contain or reduce the amount of stormwater runoff from your property.

Runoff can sometimes be directed into localized low areas in your yard called bioretention cells. These zones hold stormwater and allow it to be absorbed into the groundwater. When these retention areas are vegetated with water tolerant plants they are called Rain Gardens.

Some water tolerant plants that are ideal for rain gardens are: Inkberry, Wax Myrtle, Black-eye Susans, Tickseed, Iris, Day lilies, Yarrow, Garden Phlox.

Rain gardens can be developed into an attractive focal point for your landscaping while giving the environment a helping hand.

Pervious Pavement

pervious pavement

Reducing Paved Surfaces

Impervious surfaces such as concrete and asphalt driveways and walkways do not allow stormwater to soak into the ground. Rainwater runs across these surfaces collecting pollutants along the way. One way to reduce this runoff is to minimize the amount of paved area on your property. Pave only what is necessary.

For areas like patios try to use pervious materials such as stone, mulch, pervious concrete, or pervious pavers for reducing runoff. These alternatives allow rainwater to absorb through the driveway or patio surface.

Drainage grates at the base of the driveway are also helpful in capturing pollutants and decrease runoff. These grates collect rainwater and allow it to absorb through an underground infiltration system. Often the easiest solution is to pitch stormwater to an inset retention area on either side of the driveway or patio. Runoff from the paved area captured in these retention areas will also reduce the need for irrigation.

Please note not all rock/stone is considered pervious. Rock such as 57 stone will pack down into an impervious surface and be taxed as such. A round rock has no flat surface and will always allow the rainwater to filter through.