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> First Things First, Know Your Watershed

> Top 5 Water Pollution Offenders

> Have a Beautiful Lawn Year-Round

> Want to Learn More About Making Your Yard “Greener”?

> Greener Homes Cleaner Water

> How to Clean and Stay Green

For more information about local storm water quality programs visit: www.CleanWaterways.org.

Glass Cleaner Recipes

1. Combine 1 quart of water with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of

white vinegar, 1 to 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or 1

to 2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol; spray on surfaces

and wipe clean with a soft, lint-free cloth.

2. Combine juice from 1 lemon, 2 cups water or club soda, 1 teaspoon

cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon peppermint essential oil (optional); shake

well and spray on windows.

Oven Cleaner Recipe

Use any of the following mixtures, and scrub with a copper scrubber:

— Baking soda and water, keep sprinkling the soda on, scrub off.

— 2 tablespoons castile soap, 2 teaspoons borax in 2 cups of water,

apply and let sit 20 minutes, scrub off.

— Baking soda, salt, water (make paste) then scrub off.

— Sprinkle salt on fresh spills for easier removal.

HOW TO CLEAN AND STAY GREEN

Many common household cleaning products known as Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) contain hazardous chemicals. When these products are disposed of improperly, the chemicals end up in our waterways. Reduce the amount of HHW in our waterways by using less of it. To the right is a recipe card courtesy of the Harris County Watershed Protection Group. You can print a recipe card at www.CleanWaterways.org download section.

HAZARDOUS WASTE DUMPING CRIMINALOFFENSES AND PENALTIES• Texas Water Code, Section 7.162• A person intentionally or knowingly transports, stores or disposes of any hazardous waste without a manifest or without all required permits• Individuals—imprisonment up to 10 years and/or a $1,000 to $50,000 � ne• Corporations—$1,000 to $250,000 � ne

USED OIL DUMPINGCRIMINAL OFFENSES AND PENALTIES• Texas Water Code, Section 7.176• A person intentionally discharges used oil or knowingly disposes of or otherwise handles any used oil within the State of Texas in violation of the rules for used oil• Each day is a separate violation• Fine of not less than $1,000 or more than $50,000 and/or imprisonment up to � ve years

POLLUTION COSTS US ALL ... AND THERE ARE FINES

LOCAL AND STATE ADMINISTRATIVE AND CIVIL PENALTIES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE WITH STORM WATER LAWS AND REGULATIONS• Harris County’s Local Regulation—up to $1,000 per day per violation• City of Houston’s Local Ordinances maximum of $2,000 per day per violation• Texas Water Code, Section 7.052—up to $10,000 per day per violation• Texas Water Code, Section 7.102—up to $25,000 per day per violation

� e future depends on clean water, andclean water depends on you.

WATER POLLUTIONCRIMINAL OFFENSES AND PENALTIES• Texas Water Code, Section 7.145• A person intentionally or knowingly discharges or permits the discharge of a waste or pollutant into or adjacent to water in the state that causes or threatens to cause water pollution without strict compliance with all required permits or other authorization; Water in the state includes drainage ditches and storm water sewers• Each day is a separate violation• Imprisonment up to � ve years and/or a � ne up to $100,000

ENDANGERMENTCRIMINAL OFFENSE AND PENALTY• Texas Water Code, Sections 7.152-4• Imprisonment up to 10 years and/or a � ne up to $500,000• Corporation—� ne up to $250,000

PROTECT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD STORM DRAIN

Did you know that if you protect your storm drain, you are protecting your property, your neighborhood and the environment? Storm drains, as you know, are for rainwater only. � e main purpose is to help water � ow away

quickly from your home during heavy rainfall. If we litter our neigh-borhood storm drains with food wrappers, yard waste or construction debris we are hurting our communities by increasing our chances of � ooding. Other pollutants such as pesticides, fertilizer, pet waste, paint, and automobile by-products hurt our water quality since the water that � ows into the storm drains is not treated. It goes directly to our water sources and ultimately, Galveston Bay.

Have you ever seen your storm drains clogged with litter and debris?

FIRST THINGS FIRST, KNOW YOUR WATERSHED

A watershed is a land area that drains storm water to a common outlet point which in Harris County are creeks and bayous. Harris County has 22 major watersheds that come in all shapes and sizes. � ey are divided by community boundaries that are formed by nature and are determined by the position of its natural features. To � nd out which Harris County Watershed you live in, visit the Harris County Flood Control District website at www.hcfcd.org/watersheds.html.

Here you can learn more about your watershed’s drainage area, population, open stream miles and its primary streams. By learning more about the watershed we live in, we can learn to appreciate it and help protect it.

When green infrastructure applications and approaches are used around your home or property they can reduce, capture, and treat stormwater runo� at its source before it can reach the storm drain system. Site-speci� c practices, such as tree planting, downspout disconnections, rain harvesting/gardens, permeable pavers and natural landscapting are designed to mimic natural hydrologic func-tions. � ese approaches assist in decreasing the amount of water resistant area and stormwater runo� from individual sites.

You can help keep our water running clean by implementing a few of these suggestions on your poperty. For more details about this topic and others please visit our website at www.CleanWaterways.org and click the DOWNLOADS link.

Pollutants such as litter, fertilizer, dog poop

and yard debris clog our storm drains and

pollute our water supply. Let’s protect our

property, water supply, and marine

life by keeping these pollutants

out of our storm drains.

Top 5 Water Pollution Offenders

1 2 3 4 5STORM DRAIN CLUTTERLitter that is dumped into the street ends up in our storm drains. Plastic wrappers, bottles and bags end up in our water supply polluting it and endangering marine life.

YARD DEBRISFertilizers, pesticides, grass clippings and leaves are all considered yard debris. Let’s protect our waterways by keeping these pollutants out of our storm drains. Protect our water quality by using the correct amount of fertilizer, avoid overwatering your lawn, and remember to bag your lawn waste. Or better yet, leave the grass clippings on your lawn as a natural fertilizer. You’ll save money because lawn clippings provide a perfect balance of essential nutrients that aren’t included in most chemical fertilizers.

FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEMSHomes and businesses not connected to a municipally-managed sanitary sewer system usually treat their sewage through on-site treatment systems or septic systems. Some simple steps to maintain your system is to pump it out regularly, avoid using it as a garbage disposal and check for signs of failure to avoid costly repairs. Properly managed septic systems recycle water back into the natural environment, reducing health risks to humans and animals and preventing surface and groundwater contamination.

MOTOR OIL AND COOKING OILMotor oil, fuel and other automobile products that leak onto your driveway usually end up in our waterways. Once they enter the water, automotive � uids can reduce � sh and wildlife populations, impact human health and increase the cost to treat drinking water. Flushing cook-ing oil, fat or grease down the drain is a leading cause of plumbing blockage both in your home and in the street. Instead of using the sink, choose to place fats, oils and hardened grease into a sealable container and place in the trash. Fix those auto leaks and never pour fats and oils into our storm drains.

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE PRODUCTSAnything that has “caution”, “warning”, “danger”, “poison”, “corrosive” or “irritant” on its label is considered household hazardous waste. Many common products we use such as batteries, cleaners and certain electronics contain hazardous ingredients and require special disposal. When dumped into the ground, these hazardous materials can poison our water and kill marine life. Visit our website at www.CleanWaterways.org for information on how to dispose of these products properly.

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL LAWN YEAR-ROUND

Go Green this summer. Raise the blade on your lawn mower to improve the quality of your yard and save on fertilizer and watering costs. Longer grass blades above ground mean deeper roots beneath the surface. � e grass can absorb more moisture and nutrients, and prevent germination of weeds by creating more shade during weed germination. When you do have to fertilize, use organic fertilizers.

Also, leave grass clippings on your lawn to naturally recycle valuable nutrients back into the soil. Make your own compost using yard waste or use a commercially available variety. Mixing compost with your soil means you’ll need less chemical fertilizers. Keep in mind that your yard is a piece of Earth that requires care. You can decrease the runo� from lawns that carries topsoil and chemical into streams and lakes. Following these simple tips helps protect our precious water resources and keep your yard looking great. Plus you’ll reduce erosion, improve water and air quality and conserve our most valuable resource for generations to come.

increase the cost to treat drinking water. Flushing cook-ing oil, fat or grease down the drain is a leading cause of plumbing blockage both in your home and in

Harris CountyWatersheds

But we can all do our part to protect our neighborhood storm drains. You are already showing you care by reading this insert.

Follow our advice and share this information with your neighbors, family and co-workers. Together we can keep our water running clean. � e future depends on clean water, and clean water depends on you. Visit the Harris County environmental awareness website at www.CleanWaterways.org for more information and resources on helping us maintain cleaner waterways.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MAKING YOUR YARD

“GREENER”?Sign up for a Free Yard Wise Seminar: Learn how to work with Mother Nature to keep your yard healthy and beautiful. � e Watershed Protection Group will host a free yardwise class for all Harris County Residents. Sign up today to learn how you can save money, time and e� ort and improve environmental quality.

To � nd out more, log on to our website at www.CleanWaterways.org

GREENER HOMES CLEANER WATER