What Can I Do?

At Home

- Keep litter, debris, leaves, and pet waste out of the street gutters and ditches. Utilize curbside recycling in your neighborhood.
- Do not dispose used oil or other household chemicals into the storm drains or ditches.
- Stabilize eroded areas on your property.
- Apply lawn and garden pesticides and fertilizers according to their directions.
- Keep your yard equipment and automobiles well tuned so they don’t leak oil and chemicals into the storm drains.
- Click on the rain barrel for information on capturing and utilizing rain water at home.
- Volunteer with local groups to clean and maintain your environment, such as Richmond's Clean City Commission.

At Your Business

- Do not dispose of cooking fats, oils, or grease in the storm drain near your building. This will pollute the James River and could also clog the storm drain and result in flooding.
- Do not flush wash waters or wastewaters into the storm drain. Industries that discharge wastewaters are required to apply for an Industrial Pre-treatment Permit from the Department of Public Utilities. Information is available here on DPU's Website.
- Vehicle maintenance companies, asphalt companies, and other industrial stormwater dischargers are required to apply for a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VDPES) Permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Information is available on the DEQ Website.

Return to the Stormwater Management main page.

If you have questions, please call our Customer Care Center at 644-3000

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