WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS
Kick-Off 2026 with Home Improvement Pollution-Prevention Tips
Now that the holidays have passed, many homeowners look to start the new year by beginning to plan their home improvement projects. But along with all the excitement of kicking off these projects, comes the challenge of managing the pollution generated by them and their impact on our water quality. If not properly managed or disposed of, pollutants from home improvement activities like remodeling or renovations, landscape construction, painting, and power washing can flow into our storm drains untreated. In addition to degrading our water quality, these pollutants can kill aquatic life, harm human health, and interfere with our ability to enjoy recreational water activities.
Whether your home upgrade involves remodeling, a fresh coat of paint, landscaping, or a cleaning spruce-up, follow these key tips to prevent stormwater pollution and preserve the quality of our waterways.
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Home renovation and remodeling activities can generate pollutants such as construction debris, materials or dirt stockpiles, and soil erosion. If not properly managed, they can not only get into storm drains when they come into contact with rain or through construction site clean-up activities, but also contribute to flooding.
- Plan and complete construction projects when rain is not predicted. Keep all waste and debris away from the street, gutter, and storm drain.
- Elevate materials off the ground and cover with tarps or plastic sheets when not in use to prevent runoff caused by wind or rain. Contain temporary piles of soil and dirt with berms to prevent sediment from escaping.
- Minimize exposure time of any disturbed areas to prevent erosion. Immediately re-vegetate bare areas or provide temporary protection such as mulch, fiber rolls, and silt fences.
- Instead of rinsing renovation debris with water, sweep it up and dispose of it in trash bags, a covered bin, or dumpster. Provide a washout area, such as a lined pit or container, for proper cleaning and disposal of ‘wet’ construction materials (concrete, paint, stucco), cleaning tools, and equipment.
- Use a construction and demolition recycling company to properly dispose of construction materials and debris.
Landscape construction activities can generate pollutants such as yard waste, dirt stockpiles, and exposed soil or soil erosion. Not only can these pollutants wash into our storm drains during a rainfall or through runoff from construction activities, they can also clog storm drains, obstruct water flow, and lead to flooding. Once they settle into water bodies, these materials begin to decompose, absorbing oxygen that fish need to survive.
- Design your landscape renovation to capture water and minimize run-off using drought-tolerant or native plants that help prevent polluted runoff and reduce the amount of water, fertilizers, and pesticides needed. Install rain gardens and porous groundcover to allow water to soak into the soil. Prevent soil and sediment from reaching our waterways by planting trees, shrubs, or groundcover on slopes to keep topsoil in place and using mulch to prevent erosion of exposed soil patches.
- While new plants are being established, use Best Management Practices (BMPs) such as mulch or fiber rolls (straw wattles) to prevent and control erosion. Use sandbags along the perimeter of your property to keep water on site and to prevent discharges to the street, gutter, or storm drain.
- Cover bare spots in your yard with mulch or vegetation. Cover stockpiles of topsoil, mulch, or other bulk landscaping materials to prevent them from blowing or washing away.
- Store all bulk landscape materials like soil, mulch, or gravel under tarps while not in use.
- Clean up sod, plant trimmings and other yard waste by sweeping it up with a broom or using a rake to properly dispose of it in your green waste bin with a secure lid. Utilize compost yard waste and reuse it as a soil amendment in your garden or yard.
Painting and power washing activities. Painting can require the use of chemicals such as paint, thinners, adhesives, and sealants which should be used with caution to avoid spills or leaks. Power washing of hard surfaces can generate contaminated wastewater that often includes heavy metals, chemicals, and oil and grease, that can be easily washed off work sites. This can degrade our water quality, harm wildlife, and cause our neighbors to get sick if these contaminants reach our waterways.
Painting
- Prepare your painting work area with drip pans and drop cloths to contain spills.
- Clean up spills immediately using absorbent material, and use dry methods such as sweeping, wiping, vacuuming, or raking. Report spills that have entered the street, gutter, or storm drain to the Stormwater Hotline by calling 888-846-0800.
- Rinse painting tools such as brushes, buckets, and rags in a bermed area or sink with permitted connections to the sanitary sewer system. Never wash tools where wash water can drain into the street, gutter, or storm drain.
- Dispose of any leftover paints, cleaning chemicals, soiled rags, and used absorbent material at your local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility. Paint and associated paint products can be dropped off at select PaintCare Recycling program drop-off sites.
Power Washing
- Pre-clean using dry methods and spot cleaning to minimize pollutants from your cleaning activities. Sweep up and dispose of all debris that is on the ground prior to wet cleaning or power washing stucco, roofs, or pavement. Use absorbent materials such as kitty litter to pre-clean oily deposits.
- Protect and cover all storm drain inlets prior to power washing.
- Contain and collect the wastewater from pressure washing using wet vacuums, berms, or portable containment areas.
- Use bio-friendly cleaners that are less toxic or that do not contain hazardous substances.
The County wishes all its residents a very happy and pollution-free new year! To preserve the beauty, safety, and health of our waterways in years to come, the County asks residents to continue to be mindful of their actions to prevent stormwater pollution.
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