Easy Things You Can Do Every Day to Protect Our Water

Storm drains are connected to local bodies of water. Do not let sewage or other wastes flow into a storm water system. Please keep falling leaves off storm drains in front of your residence.

A Guide to Healthy Habits for Cleaner Water

Pollution on streets, parking lots and lawns is washed by rain into storm drains, then directly to our drinking water supplies and the ocean and lakes our children play in. Fertilizer, oil, pesticides, and grass clippings: You name it and it ends up in our water.

Stormwater pollution is one of New Jersey’s greatest threats to clean and plentiful water, and that’s why we’re all doing something about it. By sharing the responsibility and making small, easy changes in our daily lives, we can keep common pollutants out of stormwater. It all adds up to cleaner water, and it saves the high cost of cleaning up once it’s dirty.

As part of New Jersey’s initiative to keep our water clean and plentiful and to meet Federal requirements, many municipalities and other public agencies including colleges and military bases must adopt ordinances or other rules prohibiting various activities that contribute to stormwater pollution. Breaking these rules can result in fines or other penalties.

What You Can Do Everyday

As a resident, business, or other member of the New Jersey community, it is important to know these easy things you can do every day to protect our water:

• Limit your use of fertilizers and pesticides.
• Do a soil test to see if you need a fertilizer.
• Do not apply fertilizers if heavy rain is predicted.
• Look into alternatives for pesticides.
• Maintain a small lawn and keep the rest of your property or yard in a natural state with trees and other native vegetation that requires little or no fertilizer.
• If you use fertilizers and pesticides, follow the instructions on the label on how to correctly apply them.

Don’t Litter

• Place litter in trash receptacles.
• Recycle. Recycle. Recycle.
• Participate in community cleanups. Call 856-451-3811, ext. 136 for information on how to organize cleanups.

Dispose of Yard Waste Properly

• Keep leaves and grass out of storm drains.
• Follow Toms River Township’s yard waste collection rules.
• Use leaves and grass clippings as a resource for compost.
• Use a mulching mower that recycles grass clippings into the lawn.

Additional Information

For more information on stormwater related topics, visit the New Jersey Stormwater website. Additional information is also available at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website. You can also contact the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Quality, Bureau of Nonpoint Pollution, Control, Municipal Stormwater Regulation Program by calling 609-633-7021.