Montville, CT

Stormwater Pollution Prevention

Managing Rainwater Runoff

The leading cause of water quality problems today is from polluted stormwater. Unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants (which is more easily controlled), this type of pollution, also known as nonpoint source pollution, or NPS, comes from a variety of human activities on the land. It's the main reason that approximately 40% of the nation’s rivers, lakes, and estuaries are not clean enough to meet basic uses such as fishing or swimming. Each of us contributes to the problem without even realizing it.

Pollutants

NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. Paved surfaces like driveways, sidewalks and streets prevent rainwater from naturally soaking into the ground. Rainwater can pick up:

  • Fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides from agricultural and residential areas
  • Oil, grease and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production
  • Sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding streambanks
  • Salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from abandoned mines
  • Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes and faulty septic systems
  • Atmospheric deposition and hydromodification

These pollutants can then flow into a storm sewer system or directly to a lake, river, or wetland, and eventually Long Island Sound.

Anything that enters a storm sewer system (i.e. a drain, catchbasin, ditch, etc) is eventually discharged untreated into the bodies of water we use for swimming, fishing, and drinking water.

What to do measures in your everyday activities.

Household Hazardous Waste

  • Recycle or properly dispose of household products that contain chemicals, such as insecticides, pesticides, paint, solvents, and used motor oil and other auto fluids. Never pour them onto the ground or into storm drains.
  • Bring household products to a Regional Household Hazardous Waste collection event. Click for more info.

Lawn Care

  • Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly; avoid applying them before a rainstorm; keep them off of driveways and walks; and use organic, slow-release fertilizers.
  • Choose native plants and grasses. They require less water, fertilizer and pesticides.
  • Cut you lawn at the appropriate height. Cutting it shorter increases the need for water, fertilizer and weed control products.
  • Compost or mulch yard waste. Don’t leave it in the street or sweep it into storm drains or streams.
  • Compost your leaves or bring them to the Transfer Station.
  • Don’t bag grass clippings. Use a mulching lawn mower and naturally fertilize your lawn with the grass clippings.
  • Maintain a buffer strip of unmowed natural vegetation bordering all water bodies to trap excess fertilizers and sediment.

Auto Care

  • Wash your car at a commercial car wash that treats or recycles its wastewater, or on a grass or gravel area so the water infiltrates into the ground.
  • Check your car for drips and oil leaks and fix them promptly. Don’t hose down leaking fluids into the storm drain. Use kitty litter or sand to absorb and dispose of properly. Use drip pans if necessary.
  • Dispose of used auto fluids and batteries at designated drop-off or recycling locations including the Transfer Station.
  • Do not mix waste oil with gasoline, solvents, or other engine fluids. This not only contaminates the oil, which may be reused, but creates a material considered hazardous.
  • Never dump motor oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid, or other engine fluids down storm drains, into road gutters, on the ground, or into a ditch.

Pet Waste

  • Scoop up pet waste and dispose of properly. Never dump pet waste into a storm drain.

Town of Montville MS4 Public Education and Outreach Materials

Town of Montville

Maps

CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

University of Connecticut (UCONN)

Environmental Protection Agency

Stormwater Hotline:

If you would like to report an issue or comment on a Stormwater related topic such as: Illegal/illicit discharges, connections, municipal storm drain maintenance & operation, stormwater quality, Illegal dumping, concerns about proposed and ongoing land disturbance and development activities, or just helpful tips for improved overall stormwater management, please contact the Public Works Department at (860) 848-7473 or E-mail