Residents

Waterway Alongside a RoadQuick Tips

  • Never dump anything down the storm drain system or into our waterways.
  • Take your car to the car wash or wash your car on the lawn or gravel.
  • Recycle used motor oil, filters, and other household hazardous waste; keep away from waterways.
  • Scoop the poop; pick up after your pet and deposit it in the trash.
  • Use fertilizers sparingly. Do not apply before storm events and don't over water.
  • Never wash paint brushes into streets or storm drains.
  • Keep leaves, and grass clippings out of ditches, storm drains, or creeks
  • Prevent soil erosion. Cover bare soil with mulch or pine needles.

Check out this infographic for a great visual of what residents should be doing to decrease stormwater pollution.

Landscaping

Landscaping can have a huge impact on stormwater pollution. Here are some things you can do to keep pollutants out of our streams, rivers, and lakes.

  • Use fertilizers sparingly. Do not apply before storm events and don't over water. Understand the effects of pesticide use on our wildlife and water quality prior to using and keep all pesticides out of our waterways.
  • Keep leaves and grass clippings out of ditches, storm drains, or creeks.
  • Prevent soil erosion by covering bare soil with mulch, pine needles, or vegetation.
  • Do not connect downspouts to drainage pipes. Allow to drain to vegetated areas.
  • Don't over-water your lawn, letting water run off into the storm drains.
  • Use native and drought-tolerant plants.

Car Washing

The best way to decrease pollution from car washes is to go to a professional car washing facility. Commercial car wash facilities are best due to their wastewater draining into the sewer system, thus being treated before being discharged back into the environment.

Truckee Car Washes

  • Cross Roads Car Wash
  • Shell
  • J&L Food Mart and Car Wash

The Town of Truckee has a great Frequently Asked Questions sheet (PDF) to answer important questions about car washes. This brochure will give you great advice on how to have the most environmentally friendly car wash!

Pick Up After Pets

Pick up animal waste, seal the bag, and throw it away in the garbage bin. This is very important in keeping our rivers healthy for dogs and people.

View our Scoop the Poop Program Brochure (PDF).

Along the Truckee trails there are garbage cans. Throw away your dog poop bags! Leaving dog poop bags on the trail is very unsightly for other trail users and is littering! If there is no trash can or the can is upside down or locked pack your trash out!! Do not leave bags.

Proper Disposal Methods

Proper disposal of materials is very important in guaranteeing trash does not end up in our rivers and lakes. See the Keep Truckee Green Hazardous Waste page to learn how to dispose of used motor oil and filters, batteries/electronic waste, household hazardous waste, and green waste.

Always remember to never dump anything down the storm drain system or into our waterways!

Sewer Grate Surrounded by Mural