Eco-City Alexandria: Get Involved!

Only Rain Down the Drain: Protect the Chesapeake Bay

Did you know that stormwater is not treated? Storm drains are connected directly to our local streams and waterways. That means that anything that is left on a hard surface, like parking lots and roads, or put directly into a storm drain, will eventually end up in our streams. Imagine rinsing your paint brush or emptying a mop bucket in the middle of the Potomac River. That’s what it’s like when you wash anything on a paved surface or down the storm drain.

Remember, only rain down the storm drain!

Here’s what you can do to help protect our local streams:

• Properly use and dispose of household chemicals. The City’s Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Recycling (HHW) program at 3224 Colvin Street helps residents with proper disposal.
• Take used oil and automotive fluids to a local service station or the HHW site for recycling.
• Wash paintbrushes, mops, or other cleaning tools indoors to keep dirty water and harmful chemicals out of our streams. Never wash tools in the street or into a storm drain.
• Keep our City litter free. Any litter you drop in the street, on the sidewalk, or in a park will likely end up in a local stream.

Visit www.alexandriava.gov/Stormwater for more ideas on how you can help protect our local streams, the Potomac River, and the Chesapeake Bay.

image from City of Alexandria