Be Part of the Solution

The Puget Sound is being polluted. Everyday there are contaminants washing into our rivers, streams and bays. These pollutants are not just from industries and wastewater treatment plants, they are from us. They come from many sources, such as oil leaks from cars, pet waste, fertilizers, pesticides, yard waste, and litter to name a few. The rain we love so dearly is washing many of these pollutants into the storm drains, which discharges directly into the nearest body of water without being treated for contaminants. These containments are a huge part of the pollution entering Puget Sound.

We make decisions everyday that affect the amount of pollutants that run off into our waterways. Here are a few ways to make a difference in water quality in your area.

1. Don’t work on your car in the street or near a storm drain, practice spill prevention
when changing car fluids and fix any leaks on your car.

2. Either wash your car at a car wash, which recycles the wash water, or wash it in the lawn or gravel. This water can contain detergents, metals from brake pads and oils which can wash into nearby rivers and streams. Use phosphate free soaps.

3. Recycle car fluids, tires, batteries, used oil and antifreeze.

4. Use natural alternatives to chemicals in your lawn and gardens, such as soil amendments and ladybugs. If you do use pesticides and fertilizers don’t over apply chemicals to your lawn.

5. Reduce the paved areas around your home, which allows rain water to runoff into the storm drains. Instead use pavers, bricks or alternate paving techniques which let the rain water infiltrate into the ground.

6. Install a rain garden which can capture stormwater runoff and filter pollutants from driveways and lawns. For more information on rain garden benefits and installation please visit the following website: http://www.pierce.wsu.edu/Water_Quality/LID/index.htm.

7. Use native plants when landscaping, which require less water and are more pest resistant.

8. Clean up your pet waste.

9. Ride a bicycle, walk or carpool as an alternative to driving.

10. Don’t dispose of anything in the storm drains.

11. Keep your eyes open for signs of pollution. If you spot someone dumping into a storm drain, an oil spill on the street or sediment runoff from a construction site contact our water pollution hotline at (253) 383-2429 or (253) 255-3895.
For more information on pollution prevention please visit the City of Tacoma Website: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=931

Water pollution hotline (253) 255-3895.

CHB matches the commitment of our community to clean-up, restore and protect our region of Puget Sound and surrounding watersheds by being “at the table” actively working for sound-science based regulations to protect our marine resources. Our advocacy work encompasses South and South Central Puget Sound as well as the entire Puyallup River Watershed. Currently, CHB staff is actively engaged in the following initiatives: Puget Sound Partnership – CHB is active in developing Action Agendas to guide recovery of Puget Sound. In the South Sound Action Area (south of the Narrows Bridge) CHB is part of the working core stakeholders group. In our region of South Central Puget Sound (Narrows Bridge north to Snohomish County) CHB is active with other Puyallup River Watershed stakeholders focusing on the needs of our locality. City of Tacoma Critical Areas Protection Ordinances (CAPO) – Tacoma’s combination of urban, industrial and natural shorelines also afford vital habitat to a diversity of fish, birds and mammals. CHB is working with the City of Tacoma and others to develop reasonable marine shoreline protections using best available science guidance. City of Tacoma Shoreline Master Plan Update (SMP) – The City of Tacoma has committed to completing its SMP update several years earlier than required. The SMP guides land use and development along both marine and fresh water shorelines. Tacoma’s goal is to develop a model SMP for Puget Sound. CHB will continue to work with the City to achieve this objective. Pierce County Shoreline Master Plan Update (SMP) – Pierce County has initiated the process of updating its SMP earlier than required. To assist in their effort, the County has convened a Shoreline Citizens Advisory Council (SCAC) and CHB staff was appointed by the County Council as a part of the SCAC.