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New information
If your holiday food preparations end up generating more cooking grease than usual, or you have unused or unwanted cooking oil, don't poor it down the drain or dump it into the stormdrains! Go to Too Toxic To Trash page for proper disposal of cooking oil and grease. While there, take a look at how to properly dispose of household hazardous waste, such as chemicals, fertilizers, and automotive fluids! Clean water starts with you! Teachers! The Banana Slug String Band is conducting free school assemblies entitled "We All Live Upstream" in San Mateo County elementary schools. Rock Steady Science is presenting "Water Pollution Prevention and Your Car" in High Schools around the county. Also check our teachers page for resources and ideas related to pollution prevention as you plan your new school year! 2011 Fall P3 Newsletter Now Available! Watershed Groups Guide Find San Mateo County groups working on watershed stewardship projects. Volunteer opportunities and events listed. Spanish-language Stormwater Brochure available Usted es la Solución para Prevenir la Contaminación del Agua que va a los Desagües
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Featured Topic
PROPER CAR WASHING PROTECTS THE ENVIRONMENT
Environmental Problems with Washing Cars at Home. When you wash your car in the driveway or street, contaminants such as oil, grease, and metals (copper, nickel and zinc) as well as the dirt and soap can flow into storm drains, which discharge directly into our local creeks, the San Francisco Bay, and Pacific Ocean, polluting our environment. The best option. Taking your car to a commercial car wash or spray booth is the best option as all of the dirty water is sent to a wastewater treatment plant. Not only do you reduce pollution, you will save water. A commercial car wash uses less water than you would at home. Wash your vehicle on the grass or gravel. If you wash your car or truck at home, wash it where the wash water can soak into grass, gravel or be diverted to nearby landscaping, away from the street and storm drains. Use rags to wipe brake dust off of wheels before washing. Minimize Cleaners. Reduce the amount of soap used. Wash your car with plain water, and use a hose nozzle with a trigger to save water. Use soaps, cleaners and detergents that are labeled phosphate free or biodegradable. Remember, any soap, even biodegradable, is not allowed to go into the storm drain, because even biodegradable soap depletes water of oxygen which harms aquatic life. Pour your bucket of soapy water down the sink when you are done.
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Practice Good Car Care