General Public and Homeowners

The City of Dallas is working hard to protect and improve water quality in our local
waterways, but residents, businesses, students, and other groups need to do their part too!

Below are solutions to common problems and some very easy ways that YOU can help:

Household Hazardous Waste:

• Use low phosphate detergents and cleaners.
• Sweep impervious area such as walkways and driveways. Using a hose washes pollutants into the storm drain.
• Household washwater such as with carpet cleaning, should be poured down the sink.
• Recycle or properly dispose of household products that contain chemicals, such as insecticides, pesticides, paint, solvents, and used motor oil and other auto fluids. Never pour them onto the ground or into storm drains.
• Bring household products to a Regional Household Hazardous Waste collection event. Click for more info.

Lawn and Garden Care:

• Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly; avoid applying them before a rainstorm; keep them off of driveways and walks; and use organic, slow-release fertilizers.
• Choose native plants and grasses. They require less water, fertilizer and pesticides.
• Cut you lawn at the appropriate height. Cutting it shorter increases the need for water, fertilizer and weed control products.
• Compost or mulch yard waste. Don’t leave it in the street or sweep it into storm drains or streams.
• Compost your leaves or place them in your Yard Debris bin.
• Don’t bag grass clippings. Use a mulching lawn mower and naturally fertilize your lawn with the grass clippings.
• Maintain a buffer strip of unmowed natural vegetation bordering all water bodies to trap excess fertilizers and sediment.
• Don’t leave disturbed soil unvegetated and subject to erosion. Plan to do your planting beforehand and use much or compost to stabilize bare spots.
• Plant rain gardens to capture, infiltrate, and treat stormwater from impervious area such as driveways, patios, and roof tops.

Native plants and garden care resources: DEQ Healthy Lawns .pdf, Native Plant Gardening | OSU Extension Service (oregonstate.edu)

Automotive Repair:

• Never change your oil or do auto repair in the street.
• Clean spills with absorbent material or sprinkle with kitty litter, then sweep and throw in the trash.
• Collect used oil, antifreeze, and leftover petroleum products and recycle appropriately.
• Dispose of used auto fluids and batteries at designated drop-off or recycling locations.

Washing Cars and Boats:

• Wash your car or boat at a commercial car wash that treats or recycles its wastewater, or on a grass or gravel area so the water infiltrates into the ground.
• Check your car for drips and oil leaks and fix them promptly. Don’t hose down leaking fluids into the storm drain. Use kitty litter or sand to absorb and dispose of properly. Use drip pans if necessary.
• If you must wash at home, wash on a vegetated surface (ie. grass or lawn) using organic soaps without phosphates.

Pet Waste:

• Dog waste carries high levels of harmful E. coli bacteria and other pathogens which can be washed into the storm drain which discharges to local waterways. Pet waste is not a fertilizer!
• Scoop up pet waste and dispose of properly. Always carry a plastic bag when you walk your dog and dispose of pet waste in a trash can. Never dump pet waste into a storm drain.
• Pick up pet waste from your yard daily.

Disposing of Chlorinated Water from Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs Fact Sheet: Click here