The initial category of home management practices can perhaps be labeled as “site work”. Site work includes activities around your house and your yard that are simple to perform but provide a great benefit for our surrounding waters. In your yard, replant any bare areas to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion through runoff. Reduce the amount of paved surfaces in your yard and increase the pervious areas so that rain may soak into the ground. For patios, walkways and landscaping consider using porous pavements such as bricks, interlocking blocks, or gravel. Direct your downspouts away from paved surfaces and onto lawns or landscaped beds.

In another article we will thoroughly review bioretention practices like rain gardens and rain barrels.

Lawn care is another area where a few simple practices can go a long way towards protecting water quality. Use fertilizers and other chemicals like pesticides sparingly. The Clemson University Extension Service can analyze your soil so that you can better determine chemical application rates. Visit their Web site at www.clemson.edu/extension/ to review the soil testing protocols. Never exceed recommended application rates outlined on the packaging. Especially avoid applying chemicals prior to forecast rain as any rainfall will wash the chemicals directly into the storm drains. Don’t over water your lawn. Water during the cooler parts of the day and target your sprinkler heads so that they do not spray directly on sidewalks or driveways. Use native plants that are drought and pest resistant as part of your landscaping plan. Sweep up your yard debris instead of hosing down paved surfaces and whenever possible recycle or compost your lawn clippings.

Homeowners need to take particular care with potentially hazardous materials commonly found around homes. Paint, used motor oil, antifreeze, drain cleaners, and cleaners must be disposed of properly. These materials cannot be dumped into storm drains or onto the ground. Used motor oil and cooking oil can be recycled at the Town of Mount Pleasant’s facility on Six Mile Road. Many other household items can be dropped off at Charleston County Drop-Site locations. Items that may be dropped off for recycling include cardboard, used motor oil and filters, electronics like old computers or televisions, clothing, tires, lead acid and rechargeable batteries, scrap metal and appliances (refrigerator doors removed) paint, and old empty propane tanks with the valves removed.

Items that may be placed in the blue bins for pick up include plastic bottles, motor oil bottles, aerosol cans, aluminum cans, glass bottles and jars, and steel food cans. Since plastic bags are not recycled by Charleston County, take these back to the grocery store. Take your wire coat hangers back to the commercial cleaners for reuse. Recycling contributes to water quality efforts by drastically reducing the volume of “floatable” materials that can become litter and wash into storm drains and into surrounding marshes.

A few simple housekeeping measures performed by homeowners make a large contribution to overall environmental health and water quality. Practice these measures and help protect our important natural resources.

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