Best Environmental Management Practices Around Your Home

Each of us has a responsibility to help reduce pollution by properly disposing of waste from our homes. The following Best Management Practices (BMP’s) are procedures that should always be used around your home to prevent pollution from entering the storm drains and polluting our waterways.

 

Pool Maintenance

• Before draining, allow water to sit in the pool for several days to dissipate the chlorine. Test the water to ensure chlorine has dissipated before draining.
• Drain water to vegetated areas such as lawns and garden. Never drain chlorinated water to the street or storm drain.
• Particulate filter material, such as diatomaceous earth, must be disposed of in the garbage.
• Connecting a discharge pipe from a pool to the city drainage system is illegal.

Vehicle Washing and Maintenance

• Wash vehicles at a commercial car wash when possible. (Commercial car washes drain to the sanitary sewer and not to storm drains.)
• At home, wash vehicles over grass or gravel to prevent runoff.
• Minimize the use of soaps and water while washing.
• Drain excess wash water to the sanitary sewer (sink or toilet), not to storm drains.
• Perform all vehicle maintenance indoors when possible.
• Use drip pans to collect fluids from leaking vehicles.
• Clean up spills immediately using absorbent materials such as kitty litter or sand. Properly dispose of used absorbents.

Tennessee Permanent Stormwater Management and Design Guidance Manual