Storm Drains Are Not for Grass Clippings and Leaves

Storm Drains Are Not for Grass Clippings and Leaves
They may be small, but they add up.

Grass clippings and leaves blown into the street during yard maintenance don’t just disappear, they end up in the nearest creek.

When it rains, anything in the street washes into storm drains that lead to area creeks and rivers.

Why should you be concerned? Organic matter such as grass and leaves can cause odors in neighborhood creeks and drainage problems that lead to flooding.

So what’s the best place for yard trimmings?
• Blow grass clippings back onto the lawn, where they become a natural fertilizer.
• Rake or blow leaves into a compost pile, where they can decompose without odor.

If lawn maintenance workers use leaf blowers on your yard, ask them not to blow grass clippings and leaves into the street or down storm drain inlets — those rectangular holes cut into street curbs.

The storm water system is designed to drain rain and only rain, keeping large amounts of water from flooding homes and property during storms.

To learn more, call 817-392-8100.