Be part of the "Clean Water Solution"! What does this mean? Keeping Denver's lakes and streams clean requires the help of everyone. It means avoiding or minimizing practices that are harmful to our city's waters. It means thinking about the big picture, and about yourself as part of that picture. It means every individual action adds up, and every individual can and does make a difference.

Living in the watershed of an urban stream has special implications. The urban environment contains large areas of impervious surfaces - surfaces that don't allow water to penetrate through - such as parking lots, roads, and rooftops. This means that during storm events, less water soaks into the ground, and runoff travels at greater speeds to drainage ditches, streams, lakes and retention ponds. What's more, this runoff carries with it all the oil, chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers, pet waste, debris and sediment from these surfaces directly into the storm sewer, stream or lake without treatment.

Everyday activities, such as walking the dog or washing the car, contribute to non-point source pollution. By taking a few precautions and by changing our habits in small but noticeable ways, we can all make a difference and be part of the clean water solution. The following is a list of things you can do to help reduce water pollution:

Don't drain motor oil or antifreeze down storm drains

As little as four quarts of oil dumped down the storm sewer can create an eight-acre oil slick! The millions of cars and trucks in the metro area are one of our biggest polluters, of both air and water. Preventative maintenance and some common-sense precautions can reduce these pollutants.

• If you change your car's oil, be careful to avoid spills or residual drips.
• Take your old motor oil to a garage or auto parts store that recycles it.
• Consider having your car's oil changed at a quick lube or garage.
• Other auto fluids, such as antifreeze, should be disposed of properly. Use the City of Denver's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program. Call 1-800-HHW-PKUP (1-800-449-7587).
• Keep your car maintained to avoid oil and gas drips and leaks.

Minimize fertilizer use

Over-application of fertilizer contributes to eutrophication, the choking of our lakes and streams by overgrown algae and weeds. Proper use of fertilizer can reduce the environmental impact on our city waters.

• Take a soil test to determine how much fertilizer to apply.
• Fertilize in early fall, when it is most beneficial to the root system. But be sure to fertilize before the grass goes dormant, after which it can't take up the fertilizer.
• Buy only what you need and follow the instructions.
• Don't fertilize just prior to a rainstorm.
• Leave grass clippings on the lawn to act as a natural fertilizer.

Minimize pesticide use

Pesticides include chemicals that kill insects (insecticides), weeds (herbicides), and fungi (fungicides). These chemicals can be toxic to humans, pets and other animals, hence they can have many harmful effects throughout the watershed.

• Consider alternative methods such as using non-toxic sprays, beneficial predators, or spraying off pests with a forceful stream of water. Also, consider hand picking off small infestations of pests. For information on other alternative methods, call the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension at 720-913-5266.
• Buy only what you need, to avoid having to dispose of or store the product.
• Choose pesticides that are the least toxic. Look for signal words on the package: warnings which read "Poison" are highly toxic and the most dangerous. "Danger" means extremely flammable, corrosive or highly toxic. "Warning" means moderately hazardous. "Caution" means low to moderately hazardous.
• Dispose of excess pesticides using the City of Denver's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program. Call 1-800-HHW-PKUP (1-800-449-7587).

Don't over-irrigate the lawn

Excess watering not only wastes water, it increases runoff of fertilizers and pesticides into the storm sewer.

• Use native grasses such as buffalo grass that don't require as much water.
• Try xeriscape landscaping techniques, which use plants that require less water.
• Water at night, when evaporation is minimized and the water can soak in.
• Cut your grass less frequently and cut it higher when you do, taller grass creates shade that prevents water in the soil from evaporating.

Pick up and properly dispose of pet waste

Pet waste contributes to bacterial contamination of our lakes and streams. Pet waste contains harmful bacteria such as E. coli and fecal coliform. Waters that contain a high amount of bacteria such as E. coli are unfit for human contact.

• Pick up pet waste, both from your lawn, at parks, and other recreation areas
• Carry a plastic bag or pooper scooper with on your walk.
• Tie the bag up securely and place it in the garbage.
• Or, flush it down the toilet (not the bag).
• Don't dump in the storm sewer or on vacant land.

Wash the car at a commercial car wash

Soaps and detergents contain phosphates, another type of nutrient which causes eutrophication in lakes and streams. They also contain other chemicals which can degrade water quality.

• Washing your car on the driveway sends soap and suds directly to the storm sewer and on to a river or lake without treatment.
• Commercial car washes have drains that lead to the sanitary sewer, which means the soap water gets treated before being released to the watershed.

Properly dispose of household hazardous wastes

Household hazardous wastes can consist of everything from household cleaners to paint to pesticides. The City of Denver has a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Program, which should be used to dispose of these products.

• Common household hazardous wastes include: oil-based and latex paint, cleaners and polishes, solvents, thinners and removers, swimming pool chemicals, hobby supplies, photography chemicals, batteries, thermometers and thermostats, and lubricants.
• To arrange a pickup of household hazardous wastes, call the city's HHW contractor, Curbside, Inc./ Safety Keen at 1-800-HHW-PKUP (1-800-449-7587). A collection date will be scheduled, and a HHW kit will be shipped to your house.
• You can request the Denver Recycles brochure "Managing Hazardous Waste in Your Home" by calling 720-865-6805. This brochure discusses the proper methods to dispose of various household wastes.

Report Illegal Dumping or Unusual Conditions in Lakes or Streams

Be a watchdog over our lakes and streams. Contact the Division of Environmental Quality at (720) 865-5452 if you notice any of the following unusual conditions in our lakes and streams:

• A change in color of the water
• An unusual or foul odor
• Suds when there is no precipitation occurring
• Any unusual-looking substance discharging from a storm outlet
• Illegal dumping activity
• Unusual discharges from construction sites or industrial sites
• Large number of dead or dying fish or crayfish