Green storm drain tips to help keep our water clean

It’s tempting to wash things down off the end of the driveway into the storm drain but we’re all trying to do our best for the planet these days. That means you can be ecofriendly by being aware of what gets washed toward these drains from your property. Remember everything that goes down them will wind up in our lakes and rivers.

Start by paying attention to where the clippings and other debris go after you’ve done some yard work. Remember that if it all gets swept down the driveway to the drain sewers at the end, it winds up as pollution. With fertilizer, grass or even dirt, the smart move is to sweep it back into your yard. That’s the green move and you’ll feel good knowing you’ve done something for the environment.

Storm drains are for rain and nothing else. It’s not acceptable to put oil, pet waste or chemicals down them as this pollution will make its way to the lakes and rivers in your area. Because these are so important to the environment, they need to be cleaned out on a regular basis.

Hydro jetting is thorough

Remember that this is a job for professionals that have the right equipment to get the job done right the first time. You can clean out the front part of one of these storm drains with a wire bush providing you have the right gloves and goggles, but to get a thorough cleaning job done, there’s no substitute for hydro jetting.

High pressure water cleaning at the hand of expert plumbers makes sure the storm drains stay clear for as long as possible. Remember that if you plan on watching or even trying to help, it’s important to wear a reflective vest for safety reasons.

There are a few things that you can do to maintain these storm drains and prevent them from getting clogged up. Using your rake to make sure these don’t get clogged with leaves during the fall season keeps things moving smoothly. In the winter, it only takes a few minutes more when you’re shoveling the end of the driveway to clear the drain to keep it in good working order.

Storm drains are important. They take away the rain and melting snow that might otherwise flood property. It’s important to know how to look after them so they can do their job.