Tips For At Home

Clean Water - It's Everyone's Business.

The source of our drinking water (rivers and streams) starts at your front door. By keeping litter, chemicals, and yard waste out of street gutters and storm drains, you are preventing stormwater pollution - since these drain directly into a nearby lakes, streams or wetlands. Remember: only rain should go down the storm drain.

Make Your Home a Solution to Pollution!

Here are some simple steps to make your piece of the planet a healthier place to live:

Mud & Trash

- Sweep driveways, sidewalks, and roads instead of using a hose.
- Keep a litter bag in your car; if you smoke, use the ashtray or an empty soda can.
- Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!
Wentzville Recycling Guide
Local Recycling Centers

Paint & Chemicals

- Wash latex paintbrushes in the sink or toilet, not in the street or near storm drains.
- Use Recycle Works to get rid of oil, grease, paint, pool chemicals, batteries and more!
- Pet Waste: Pick up after your pet and dispose of the waste in the toilet or trash.
- Auto Care: Soap, salt, mud, and oil can end up in our streams.
- Check for and repair fuel and oil leaks. Clean up spilled auto fluids.
- Go to a car wash or wash your car on the lawn with non-phosphorous, biodegradable soap. (Car washes dispose soapy water into sanitary sewers.)

Lawn Care

- Reduce streambank erosion by helping slow runoff down and soaking it in.
- Use native plants with deep root systems that work harder than sod and require less water and fertilizer.
Why Native Plants?
Water-Smart Landscaping Guide
Native Plants for Your Landscape
Native Landscaping Manual (includes plant suppliers and landscapers)
Rain Garden Guide
Rain Gardening for Stormwater Management
How to Build and Install a Rain Barrel
Other Publications

- Keep yard waste and grass clipping piles away from stream banks and storm drains to prevent erosion, pollution and storm system blockages.

- Mulch grass clippings to reduce the need to bag, water and weed. Or sign up for yard waste collection by calling (636) 327-5101.

- Limit pesticide and fertilizer use. Apply only the amount recommended. Try Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to reduce the need for chemicals.

- Inspect and pump septic systems every three to five years to operate properly.