The Importance of Keeping your Storm Drains Clean

Environmentally-beneficial cleanliness that will keep your yard looking amazing!

With Florida’s constant heavy rain flow, keeping the storm drains in your area clear are of vital importance, not only for the environment, but for the beauty of your neighborhood! Some of the major effects of clogged or dirty storm drains are:

Flooding: Heavy rainfalls in Florida and clogged storm drains can cause heavy flooding in your yard, causing property and infrastructural damage.

Water Quality Protection: Storm water runoff collects pollutants like fertilizer, pesticides, oil, debris, and trash from nearby streets, yards, and parking lots. Instead of going into the storm drains, the runoff will enter ponds, lakes, and other water sources.

Environmental Impact: Polluted stormwater can harm aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Polluted runoff can go into forests, lakes, ponds, and oceans, causing the water quality and biodiversity to drastically decrease.

Public Health Concerns: Floods caused by clogged storm drains can leave sitting water afterwards called stillwater. This still water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, causing a rise in the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses.

Coastal Protection: Near Florida coasts, runoff can contribute to beach erosion and the degradation of marine habitats. This beach erosion would be fixed by dredging, which further impacts marine habitats.

What can you do to keep storm drains in your area clean?

Regular Cleaning: The local authorities are responsible for cleaning these drains, though they are not always consistent with it. You can request for a county employee to come to clean the area either online at hecfl.net/atyourservice or by calling (813)272-5900.

Public Awareness Campaigns: Educate your neighbors and family about leaving trash near storm drains, tying trash bags tightly, and making sure trash is disposed of properly.

Proper Landscaping Drainage: Design your yard to have proper drainage using stones, rain collection containers, and minimal fertilizer. This will dispel stillwater, flooding, and pollution runoff from entering the streets and storm drains.

Regular Landscaping Maintenance and Disposal: Consistent lawn maintenance, such as tree trimming, is beneficial to keeping storm drains debris-free. Disposing of these tree trimming, lawn clippings, and leaves properly are essential as all of these materials can cause a build-up of debris in storm drains.

The benefits of these steps will be clear in your community and home, with a noticeable decrease in flooding, yellowing grass and trees, and algal blooms in any near bodies of water. These tips will also increase biodiversity in both flora and fauna, producing a more beautiful yard and neighborhood for your community to enjoy!

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For any inquiries, please contact:

Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council- Stormwater Outreach Programs

https://tbrpc.org/about/services/environmental-planning/stormwater-funding/

The Hillsborough Public Works Department

(813) 635-5400

https://hcfl.gov/residents/public-safety/flooding/flood-information-and-safety