How to Help Sligo Creek’s Water Quality

Suggestions for helping Sligo’s water quality, organized in 4 sections: Home, Street, Car, and Community.

Only rain water should go down the street storm drains!

Home

Do

  • sweep the gutters and driveways regularly and place the sweepings in the garden
  • prevent soil or mulch from being washed or blown off the garden
  • rake up lawn clippings and use them as mulch on the garden or place them in the compost
  • grass or re-plant areas of disturbed soil
  • use natural alternatives to pest control chemicals
  • dispose of paint and chemicals at approved disposal sites (e.g., Shady Grove Transfer Station)
  • consider using rain barrels, rain gardens, and other methods to reduce runoff and increase water infiltration in your yard
Don’t
  • pile sand and soil on areas where it can wash into the stormwater system
  • overuse/use chemicals (pesticides and herbicides) that could be washed into stormwater from your yard
  • drop packaging or cigarette butts on the ground
  • leave trash where bins are already full
  • use (too much) fertilizer
  • pour grease or food items down the kitchen drain; it may lead to sewer blockages
  • leave dirt exposed, including piles of dirt
  • let paint, concrete or other work substances run down the driveway and road and into the Creek
  • wash your car on the street or in your driveway where suds could flow into the Creek
Maple Ave Silt going into Sligo Creek

Soil pollution entering Sligo Creek tributary from storm drains

Street

Do

  • pick up litter when you see it
  • clean up pet droppings and dispose of them in the park rubbish bins, or in the toilet

Don’t

  • throw litter onto the street or sidewalk
  • wash your car in your driveway or on the street
  • pour paint cleanup water or concrete dust cleaup water down a storm drain
    Bacterial Plate

    Coliform bacterial plate of water quality sample, such as from pet waste

    CAR

    Do

    • maintain your car, making sure there are no leaks and that fuel is burned cleanly by keeping it tuned
    • use the minimum amount of detergent for cleaning outside, and wash your car on the grass or on gravel.
    • take your car to a car wash where the water is recycled

    Don’t

    • work on your car (including oil changing) in a place where oil and grease may wash into the street
    • wash the car in the street using detergent
    • wash your patio with chemicals if the wash water can run into a storm drain (and it may affect your plants too)
    Suds discharge into Sligo Creek

    Detergent suds discharging into the Creek from stormwater drains

    COMMUNITY

    Do

    • Participate in a FOSC Water Quality (WQ) monitoring program, such as Winter Salt monitoring, Summer WQ monitoring, or year round WQ monitoring.
    • Report pollution you see in the creek or anywhere in the watershed asap to the Water WatchDog email: [email protected]g.
    • Encourage civic leaders to implement policies that reduce stormwater volumes, sewer leaks, nutrient runoff, toxic chemicals, and other impediments to water quality. Check the Advocacy page for sample letters.