Pollution Prevention at Home

How to prevent pollution at home

Unlike wastewater from your home that goes down your sink drain to a treatment plant, stormwater flows into stormwater ponds or directly into local rivers and creeks. Rivers and creeks in Brampton carry this stormwater to Lake Ontario, the source of drinking water for Brampton, Mississauga, and Caledon.

How does stormwater enter the storm sewer system

After it rains or the snow melts this stormwater flows across the ground and into catchbasins, ditches or directly into stormwater management ponds and creeks/rivers. Catchbasins are the metal grates that are installed to be flush with the ground surface and are positioned at low points along the curbline of roadways and in parking lots.

What pollutes stormwater at home

Stormwater picks up contaminants that have been spilled, applied or swept onto driveways, roads, lawns, gardens and other surfaces. Common contaminants include the following:

Antifreeze and other fluids from cars
Car wash soap and cleaners
Household chemicals
Cigarette butts
Cooking oils and grease
Dyes, solvents, and paints
Fertilizers and pesticides
Leaking fluids from dumpsters and garbage bins
Litter
Oil and lubricants
Pet waste
Plastic pellets
Road salt/ice melter
Soil, grass clippings and yard waste

Help to prevent pollution at home

We all can help prevent stormwater pollution in local rivers and creeks by following these recommendations:

General recommendations:

Never dump or wash chemicals, oil, dirt, or polluted water into catchbasins, ponds, ditches, creeks, or rivers.
Keep your property clean and free of litter.
Store potential contaminants in covered containers away from entry points to the stormwater system to prevent accidental spills.

Winter safety:

Shovel first. Shovel all the snow you can before using salt or sand. You may find you won’t need that much salt or sand at all.
Be mindful of the amount of salt and sand you use.
Follow the product instructions when applying ice control chemicals. Salt works best between 0 and -10 Celsius. When it's colder, switch to sand for traction or an ice melter that works at colder temperatures.
Use salt or sand only on iced-over areas.
Sweep up spilled and excess road salt to save for another time. Salt does not expire.
Do not let salt be washed away by rain or snowmelt.

In the yard:

Minimize the use of fertilizer to the extent possible.
Choose native plants, shrubs, and trees for your yard and garden because native plants need less fertilizer.
Apply lawn and garden chemicals only if needed and according to the product’s instructions and regulations.
Do not apply fertilizer before, during or immediately after it rains.
Avoid spraying fertilizers onto driveways, sidewalks, and roads.
Keep yard debris away from roads and catchbasins to prevent blockages in storm sewers and flooding.
When removing yard waste, dispose of it in yard waste bags or bins. Do not move yard waste onto the road.

Waste disposal:

Dispose of food in the Green Bin for curbside pick-up and beverages as liquid waste into household drains connected to the sanitary sewer system.
Dispose of cigarette butts in the garbage, not on the ground.
Pick up pet waste and dispose of it in the garbage. The City of Brampton’s Traffic By-Law 93-93 and Parklands By-Law 161-83 requires all animal owners clean animal waste from City property, parkland, boulevards. Learn more about Stoop and Scoop.
Dispose of household hazardous materials such as motor oil, antifreeze, and paints at Region of Peel’s Community Recycling Centres.

Draining your pool:

Only drain your residential pool water to the City’s stormwater system while following these guidelines:

Wait at least 7 days after the latest chloride or chemical treatment
Wait at least 24 hours after the latest rainfall
Check that copper and chlorine levels are below the limits in the City’s Sewage By-law
Drain the pool slowly to the curb in front of your home so that water safely enters the City’s stormwater system
Follow all other regulations regarding pool ownership.

Cleaning activities:

Clean contaminants from your driveway and walkways by vacuuming, sweeping, and using rags or dry absorbents.
Avoid cleaning paved areas with water because this will wash contaminants onto the road and ultimately into, rivers and creeks.
Wash carpets, outdoor furniture, and other items on lawns or gravel surfaces, not on the driveway or road.
Choose non-hazardous cleaning products.

Car maintenance:

Maintain cars often to prevent engine fluid leaks and quickly clean up any fluid that has leaked onto your driveway.
Use a commercial car wash when possible because water from car washes gets treated at the wastewater treatment plant.
Use a sponge and a bucket of water to wash your car at home. Dispose of the polluted water in the laundry sink or toilet so that it gets treated at the wastewater treatment plant. Do not dump wash-water on a driveway or road or into a catchbasin, pond, river, or creek.