Stormwater runoff is the rain and snowmelt that runs off streets, rooftops, parking lots, and other land surfaces. Storm-water runoff is not clean water!

As it flows across various land surfaces, stormwater picks up pollutants such as soil, litter, pesticides, fertilizers, grass clippings and leaves, pet waste, road salt, oil, automotive fluids and other toxic chemicals from leaks and spills.

This runoff then flows into storm drains, en-tering our storm sewer system. Washington has two types of storm-water collection sys-tems: combined sewers which carry both sew-age and stormwater, and municipal separate storm sewer systems, (called MS4’s) which carry stormwater only.

What Is Stormwater Runoff?

The Problem...

Combined sewage is treat-ed by our wastewater treatment plant. However, during a heavy rain, the capacity of our treatment plant can be exceeded, causing untreated sewage and stormwater to over-flow into the White River.

MS4’s do not lead to our wastewater treatment

plant, but empty direct-ly into local streams such as Hawkins Creek and Veale Creek. The pollutants carried by stormwater runoff can contaminate local streams and rivers, in turn affecting human health and the environ-ment in a negative way.

Many of our daily ac-tivities have the poten-tial to contribute to pol-luted stormwater run-off. Fortunately, there are many things that homeowners can do to reduce stormwater run-off. Read on to find out how you can be part of the solution...

Stormwater Solutions

Learn How ...

• Stormwater pollution affects everyone.

• You can help reduce the amount of stormwater runoff leaving your prop-erty

• You can save money and improve the condition of local streams and rivers

Inside This Booklet:

What’s a Watershed? 2

Local Watersheds 3

Actions You Can Take 5

Rain Barrels 6

Composting 7

What Is HHW? 8

Eco-Friendly Cleaners 9

What is a watershed? A water-shed is an area of land that drains to a common body of wa-ter, such as a stream, river, or lake. Watersheds are also called drainage basins.

The boundaries of watersheds are based on the elevation and shape of the land, not city, coun-ty or state borders. They vary widely in size-a watershed may be as small as a backyard that borders a creek, or as large as the land area that drains into the Mississippi River.

Smaller watersheds are part of larg-er ones, fitting together with neigh-boring watersheds like the pieces of a puzzle –so all of our actions, both positive and negative, can affect those living downstream from us.

All the communities within our wa-tershed need to work together if we are to reduce stormwater runoff and improve the water quality in our streams and rivers.

The White River-Hawkins Creek, Veale Creek Slough and Lower Veale Creek water-sheds.

On a larger scale, most of the state of Indiana is part of the Wabash River Watershed, and in turn a part of the largest watershed in the United States-the Mississippi River Water-shed.

Most of Daviess County lies within the Lower White River Watershed. The water that flows across our land eventually drains into the White River.

The city of Washington covers part of three small-er, sub-watersheds within this larger one:

Everyone Lives in a Watershed

Which Watershed Do I Live In?

Page 2 Stormwater Solutions

Lower White River Watershed

Image source: Mid-America Regional Council, Kansas City, MO

Imag

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esy

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We all live in a watershed!

1. Downspout 3. Storm drain 5. Untreated stormwater discharge 2. Untreated runoff 4. Sewer system 6. Urban stream

Example of an urban watershed

1

2 3

4

5

6

The two forks of the White River form the western and southern boundaries of Daviess County, then join togeth-er as one river, flowing into the Wabash River. The Wabash makes its way south, where it emp-ties into the Ohio River. The Ohio River continues

Rainwater and snowmelt flow across the many dif-ferent land surfaces in our local watersheds, running into storm drains, which empty into streams and creeks, such as Hawkins and Veale Creeks. These creeks flow through our county until they join with the White River.

on until it joins with the Mississippi River. This mighty river empties out into the Gulf of Mexico. So the water flowing through our neighbor-hoods (pollutants and all), makes a long journey to the Gulf of Mexico-affecting everyone along the way.

Our Local Watersheds

The Path of a Raindrop...

“To catch the reader's

attention, place an interesting

sentence or quote from the

story here.”

Page 3

White River-Hawkins Creek Watershed

Lower Veale Creek Watershed

Veale Creek Slough Watershed

Watershed Borders

Highway 50 Bypass

Highways

Veale Creek

Many everyday activities around our homes have the potential to contrib-ute to polluted storm-water runoff. Improper use, storage and disposal of harsh household chemi-cals, careless trash dispos-al, home improvement projects, excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, lawn care, pet care, and

Good or Bad...It’s Up To You!

Stormwater Runoff and You

Page 4 Stormwater Solutions

do-it-yourself auto care and maintenance—these are just a few of the ways people can add to the pol-lution flowing into our local waterways.

This polluted stormwater runoff entering our local streams and rivers can have lasting health, safe-ty, environmental, and

economic impacts on our watersheds and communi-ties.

There is good news -stormwater pollution can be reduced! There are sim-ple actions each of us can take to impact the health of our local watersheds in a positive way.

Actions YOU Can Take to Reduce Stormwater Pollution

Auto Maintenance

Page 5

Home Lawn and Garden Care

• Properly use, store, and dispose of all house-hold chemicals - See page 8 for details.

• Use a garbage can with a lid for trash, and recycle whenever possible.

• Disconnect your downspouts from sewer standpipes and direct them to flow over your lawn or garden.

• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean off driveways and sidewalks.

• Use a snow shovel instead of salt/ice melt to clear sidewalks and driveways in the winter.

• Choose water-based paints (such as latex) for painting projects -clean brushes in a sink.

• Dispose of cooking fats, oils and grease in the trash instead of down the drain.

• When mowing, cut grass 3 inches high.

• Start a compost pile for leaves, grass clip-pings, and garden waste - See page 7 for de-tails.

• Minimize or eliminate the use of fertilizers and pesticides-if you use them, follow directions carefully.

• Landscape using plant species native to your area for lower maintenance gardening.

• Plant ground cover plants in bare areas to help control soil erosion.

• Plant a rain garden and direct downspouts to flow into it -contact the Daviess County SWCD for a how-to booklet.

• Install a rain barrel to collect and save the rainfall flowing off your roof -See page 6 for details.

• Clean up and dispose of pet waste.

• Keep your vehicles tuned up and repair all leaks promptly.

• Recycle used motor oil and antifreeze.

• Clean up spilled brake fluid, oil, grease and antifreeze with kitty litter , sawdust or oth-er absorbent material and dispose of it in the trash.

• Wash your car at a commercial car wash, or on a grassy area where the water can soak into the ground.

“Stormie” used with permission from the University of Wisconsin-Extension and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Page 6 Stormwater Solutions

Rain, Roofs, Rain Barrels...

Did you know...For every inch of rain that falls on a roof area of 1,000 square feet, 600 gal-lons of rainwater flow off your roof and through your downspouts!

Most downspouts send rainwater down driveways, sidewalks and underground pipes that lead to storm drains or sanitary sewer lines. This rainfall flowing into our storm drain sys-tem can increase the risk of sewer overflows and flooding. City of Washington Ordinance

52.042 forbids the connection of roof downspouts, exterior drains or other sources of surface runoff to the public sewer system.

Did you know...Lawn and garden watering can make up nearly 40 percent of total household water use during the summer. A rain barrel installed at one or more of your downspouts will collect and store rainwater for outdoor uses during dry periods. By using rain barrels, most homeowners will save about 1,300 gallons of water during peak summer months...leading to a savings on water and sewer utility bills!

Benefits of Rain Barrels: Reduces stormwater runoff volume - FREE water means a green lawn, a green garden, and ‘green’ in your wallet!

...and Rain Gardens

A rain garden is a shallow, saucer-shaped garden featuring native perennial plants and grasses. It is designed to absorb stormwater run-off from imper-vious surfaces such as roof tops, driveways and sidewalks.

Rain gardens are one way that homeowners can reduce runoff and let stormwater soak slowly into the ground as it does in nature. Ideas like rain gar-dens will become more important as communities seek ways to reduce the strain on overburdened, and often aging storm and sanitary sewer systems.

Once established, a rain garden is an attractive, low-maintenance addition to any landscape. Many of the plants suitable for a rain garden also attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

Contact the Daviess County SWCD, 812-254-4780 ext.112, for an information packet on building a rain garden. Or download the manual here: http://learningstore.uwex.edu/assets/pdfs/GWQ037.pdf

Image source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Composting

“To catch the reader's attention, place an interesting sentence or quote from

the story here.”

Page 7

What is Composting?

Composting is the natural decomposition of organic materials such as twigs, leaves, grass clippings, manure, food scraps, etc. This is accomplished through the action of various kinds of bacteria, fungi, and insects. Put simply, composting is nature’s way of recycling.

Why Should I Compost? Composting at home is an environmentally friendly way to dispose of leaves and garden wastes—Lawn wastes have been banned from Indiana landfills since 1994, and burning is also prohibited in many areas. Compost added to your garden can: Improve soil structure; loosening heavy clay soils and adding body to sandy soils -Provide essen-tial nutrients to the soil, helping plants to grow faster and healthier - Reduce water demands of plants - Reduce re-liance on commercial fertilizers.

Building a Compost Pile: You can build a compost pile almost anywhere in your yard. You don’t have to have a bin to be successful at com-posting. However, a bin helps keep the pile neat and helps retain heat and moisture. You can purchase a bin or build your own. Note: DO NOT use treated lumber to build a wooden bin- chemicals used in the treatment process can leach out and contaminate the compost.

Gather the materials you need for composting. Composting ingredients fall into two categories: “Browns”, which are high in carbon, and “Greens”, which are high in nitrogen. The pile should be about 75% browns and 25% greens by volume. It’s easiest to assemble your pile in layers. Start with a 6-inch layer of browns. Sprinkle in a handful or two of soil. Add a 3-4 inch layer of greens. Water each layer until it’s as damp as a squeezed out sponge. Alternate layers until the pile is at least 3 feet high. End with a layer of browns. Layering helps ensure the right proportion of browns to greens. Mix the pile well.

How Much Work Do I REALLY Have To Do?

The more effort you put into it, the faster you will have finished compost. If a compost pile with the proper ratio of greens to browns is kept consistently moist, and mixed every 7-10 days, the materials will become finished compost in as little as 6-8 weeks. If you build your compost pile and then do nothing, the materials in the pile will eventual-ly decompose and become compost in about 1-2 years.

Is It Compost Yet? Finished compost is a dark brown, crumbly soil-like material with a sweet, earthy smell. Use your finished compost to enrich garden and potting soils; or use it as a mulch around trees, shrubs, and flowers.

Browns Greens

Dead leaves, Saw dust, Wood chips, Straw, Small twigs, Wood ashes, Dried corn stalks, Shredded paper.

Fresh grass clippings, Garden waste, Vegetable & fruit peels & scraps, (use citrus scraps sparingly) Livestock manure, Coffee grounds, Egg shells.

DO NOT ADD:

Meat scraps, fats, pet waste, dairy products, diseased plants, weeds gone to seed.

Household Hazardous Waste, or ‘HHW’

Page 8 Stormwater Solutions

What makes a household product hazardous? If it contains ingredients that are corrosive, toxic, flammable, or re-active, then it is considered hazardous. Look on the label for words like “Danger”, “Caution”, or “Warning” – these are a few words used to indicate that a product contains hazardous ingredients. Leftover, unused, or unwanted products such as these are called “household hazardous wastes”, or “HHW”.

Following are some tips from IDEM and the EPA for managing household hazardous wastes.

Don’t Buy It! The best solution is to minimize your use of hazardous products, only buying what you need to do the job so that there are no leftovers, or to use a non-toxic alternative. See the next page for eco-friendly clean-ing recipes.

Use and Store Them Properly Follow all label instructions for use of the product. Store hazardous products in their original containers with their original labels intact. Never store hazardous products in food containers.

Never mix HHW with other products!

Recycle It! Some types of HHW, such as used motor oil or items containing mercury, can be recycled. Check with your local HHW facility to see if a product can be recycled.

Share It! If the material is still useable (i.e. not damaged/expired/banned etc.) check with family and friends to see if they might be able to use it. Also check with churches or community groups to see if they could use the product. Only share items that are still in their original containers with their original labels intact.

Dispose of HHW Correctly Read the product label and follow instructions for proper disposal of any leftovers and the empty container. When hazardous household products are poured into a sink, into a storm drain or onto the ground, these chemicals can end up in local water bodies or our groundwater. Not only can aquatic plant and ani-mal life be harmed, but human health can also be at risk if these toxics end up in waterways used as a drinking wa-ter source, or for recreation. When in doubt, don’t throw it out!

Some examples of common household hazardous products are: oven cleaner, metal polish, drain cleaner, items con-taining mercury, (like older thermometers, thermostats, and fluorescent light bulbs) nail polish and remover, weed killer, pesticides, antifreeze, motor oil, fuels, wood preservatives and stains, paint thinner, and oil-based paints.

Latex paint is water-based, and NOT considered hazardous. To dispose of latex paint, dry it up, wrap the can, and place it in the trash.

If you are unsure whether or not a household product is hazardous, or if you have questions about proper disposal of HHW, please call Angela Quast at Washington’s Stormwater Department, 254-2792, or IDEM at 1-800-451-6027.

The HHW Facility also accepts electronic waste (such as televisions and computers) - anything with an electrical cord that does NOT contain Freon or any other refrigerant.

Washington’s HHW Facility

304. E. Oak Street Washington IN 47501

Hours: Wednesday and Thursday,

7:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Or you may call 254-2792 to schedule an alternative drop-off time.

Environmentally Friendly Homemade Cleaners

Page 9

Dishwasher Soap

In a container with a tightly fitting lid mix well:

1 cup borax 1 cup baking soda 1/4 cup salt 1/4 cup dry lemonade mix (citric acid) Place 1 to 2 Tablespoons in soap cup and fill rinse cup with white vinegar.

Sink Scrub

1/2 cup baking soda 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinna-mon 2 drops cedar wood essential oil* Combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix until well blended. Store in an air-tight container. Sprinkle on sink or tub and scrub. Rinse well. *Other essential oils or herbs may be substituted. All Purpose Cleaner

In a 15-oz. spray bottle, com-bine: 2 Tablespoons white vinegar 1 teaspoon borax Add hot water to almost fill bottle. Add 2 Tablespoons castile soap 5 to 7 drops essential oil Shake well to mix.

Floor Cleaner

1/2 gallon vinegar 1/8 cup castile soap 1 teaspoon essential oil Mix together in the vinegar bottle. Be sure to label it as floor cleaner! It is normal for the ingredients to not fully dis-solve. Shake well before each use. Use 1 to 2 cups in a bucket of hot water to wash floor. Toilet Bowl Cleaner

1 cup borax 1/4 cup white vinegar 3 drops lemon or lavender oil Pour all ingredients into toilet bowl. Leave for a while or even overnight. Scrub with toilet brush and flush. Glass Cleaner

Fill a spray bottle with Club Soda. Use 2 lint free cloths-one for cleaning, one for drying.

Liquid Laundry Soap

2 cups hot water 1/3 bar Fels Naptha Laundry Bar Soap, grated 1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax 4 cups hot water; up to 1-1/2 gallons additional hot water 2-gallon bucket Mix grated soap in a large saucepan with 2 cups hot wa-ter; heat over low heat, stirring until dissolved. Do not allow to boil. Add Super Washing Soda and borax, stir until thickened. Remove from heat. Add 4 cups hot water to the 2-gallon buck-et. Add soap mixture; mix well. Fill bucket with more hot wa-ter, leaving a few inches at the top and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours. Mixture will form a thick, gel-like layer on top. Mix well and place in contain-ers with lids. Shake well before using. Use 1/2 cup per load. This soap makes little or no suds!

Clearly label all cleaners with a list of ingredients. Keep out of the reach of children. While most of these natural cleaners are not poisonous, some may be harmful if swallowed by children or pets. Check specific safety precautions for each ingredient.

DISCLAIMER: The recipes listed here have not been tested by the Daviess County SWCD, nor does it make any claim as to their ability to work in any given cleaning situation. The recipes were obtained from third parties who also make no claim as to the above. These products are made from items ob-tained from most grocery and/or natural food stores. Always test products in an inconspicuous area or consult manufacturers’ specifications concerning use of these products on certain surfaces. Individual results may vary.

Daviess County SWCD 2526 E. National Hwy. Washington IN 47501

Phone: 812-254-4780 ext. 3 Fax: 855-458-8769 E-mail: dc.swcd@daviess.org

Since 2004, the City of Washington and the

Daviess County Soil & Water Conservation

District have worked together to provide

information to citizens about stormwater

issues affecting our community. This suc-

cessful partnership has implemented ex-

panded recycling opportunities and educa-

tional programs for area students; pub-

lished newspaper articles, and hosted in-

formative workshops.

The two organizations are committed to

helping improve the water quality in our

local streams and rivers.

Washington Household Hazardous Waste Facility

304 E. Oak Street 812-254-2792 Hours: Wednesday and Thursday 7:00am-3:00pm Or call to schedule a drop-off time.

Washington Recycling Center

2200 Memorial Avenue 812-254-4564 Hours: Monday: 7:00am-3:30pm Tuesday-Friday: 9:00am-5:30pm Saturday: 7:30am-4:00pm

Daviess County Landfill Montgomery IN 812-486-3774 Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm Saturday 8:00am -Noon

Recycling Locations in Daviess County

Use Your Brain Before Pouring Anything Down the

Drain!

We’re online!

www.daviesscoswcd.org

City of Washington Stormwater Department 169 S 200 W Washington IN 47501

Phone: 812-254-2792 E-mail: aquast@washingtonin.us

ALL locations accept the following items, properly prepared for recycling: Plastic #1 - beverage bottles, rinsed with lids removed. Plastic#2 - milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles, rinsed with lids removed. Aluminum cans, rinsed; steel food cans, rinsed; newspaper, cardboard.

Questions about a specific item? Call individual facilities for assistance