What can you do about Water Conservation and Stormwater Pollution?

Prevent the contamination of stormwater runoff at your home and business to help keep local waters healthy and Blue -- Portsmouth's Stormwater Management Program mascot -- happy!

Use a commercial car wash or wash your car on a lawn or other unpaved surface to minimize the amount of dirty, soapy water flowing into a storm drain or local waterbody.
Check your car, boat, motorcycle, and other machinery and equipment for leaks and spills. Make repairs as soon as possible. Clean up spilled fluids with an absorbent material like kitty litter or sand, and don't rinse the spills into a nearby storm drain. Remember to properly dispose of the absorbent material.
Recycle used oil and other automotive fluids at participating service stations. Don't dump these chemicals down the storm drain or dispose of them in your trash.

Raingarden diagram

Choose organic methods and compatible products. Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly. When use is necessary, use these chemicals in the recommended amounts. Avoid application if the forecast calls for rain; otherwise, chemicals will be washed into your local stream.
Select native plants and grasses that are drought- and pest-resistant. Native plants require less water, fertilizer, and pesticides.
Sweep up yard debris, rather than hosing down areas. Compost or recycle yard waste when possible.
Don't overwater your lawn. Water during the cool times of the day, and don't let water run off into the storm drain.
Cover piles of dirt and mulch being used in landscaping projects to prevent these pollutants from blowing or washing off your yard and into local waterbodies. Vegetate bare spots in your yard to prevent soil erosion. Plant a raingarden.
Please see this flyer for helpful information
RAKE IT OR LEAVE IT: Avoid dumping fall yard waste near wetlands or bodies of water, as decomposing leaves and branches can negatively impact aquatic creatures and organisms in water bodies. Clear leaves from driveways and walkways and sweep grass clippings and fertilizer back onto lawns to reduce nutrient pollution into the watershed. For more information, click here.
For more, go to the City of Portsmouth Sustainable Land Care page.

Before beginning an outdoor project, locate the nearest storm drains and protect them from debris and other materials.
Sweep up and properly dispose of construction debris such as concrete and mortar.
Reduce the amount of paved area and increase the amount of vegetated area in your yard. Use native plants in your landscaping to reduce the need for watering during dry periods. Consider directing downspouts away from paved surfaces onto lawns and other measures to increase infiltration and reduce polluted runoff.

When walking your pet, remember to pick up the waste and dispose of it properly. Flushing pet waste is the best disposal method. Leaving pet waste on the ground increases public health risks by allowing harmful bacteria and nutrients to wash into the storm drain and eventually into local waterbodies. Please see this flyer for helpful information.

South Mill Dog Park Pet Waste Sign

Drain your swimming pool only when a test kit does not detect chlorine levels.
Whenever possible, drain your pool or spa into the sanitary sewer system.
Properly store pool and spa chemicals to prevent leaks and spills, preferably in a covered area to avoid exposure to stormwater.

Flush responsibly. Flushing household chemicals like paint, pesticides, oil, and antifreeze can destroy the biological treatment taking place in the system. Other items, such as diapers, paper towels, and cat litter, can clog the septic system and potentially damage components.
If you have a septic system - have it inspected by a professional every 3 years and have the septic pumped as necessary (usually every 3 to 5 years)
Care for the septic system drainfield by not driving or parking vehicles on it. Plant only grass over and near the drainfield to avoid damage from roots.
For more information, click here.

Use hazardous substances like paints, solvents, and cleaners in the smallest amounts possible, and follow the directions on the label. Clean up spills immediately.
Dispose of the waste safely - The City of Portsmouth provides for household hazardous waste disposal twice a year. Click here for more information
Purchase and use nontoxic, biodegradable, recycled, and recyclable products whenever possible.
Clean paint brushes in a sink, not outdoors. Filter and reuse paint thinner when using oil-based paints. Properly dispose of excess paints through a household hazardous waste collection program or donate unused paint to local organizations.