How to Responsibly Fertilize:

Over-applying fertilizers is not good for plants or the environment.

• Have your soil tested to determine what fertilizer and how much is needed if any.
• For Lawns and gardens, soils should be tested every 3 years.
• Use a certified professional or be sure to follow the label directions for proper application. Consider professionals certified through Virginia DCR's Green & Clean Initiative.
• Keep fertilizer at least 15 feet away from streams and clean up any fertilizer that land on impervious services.
• Leave grass clipping on the lawn as a free slow-release fertilizer
• Make your own fertilizer, try composting.
• Speak with a professional about a seasonal fertilizer recommendation schedule

Weeds and Pests:

Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and take Preventive Measures:  

• Use native plants that are resistant to pests and diseases in your landscape.
• Use plants that flower or fruit at different times of the year.
• Rotate vegetables to cut down on disease and insects.
• Plant a mix of flowers, herbs, and vegetables together to attract pollinators and beneficial insects.
• Place bird and bat houses in the landscape.

 Encourage beneficial insects to your yard by planting attracting flowers and avoid using insecticides.

 Physical Controls -

• remove weeds and insects by hand,
• remove diseased plants, weeds and plant litter regularly
• use protective tubes or sleeves around young vegetables or flowers, and
• wash pests away with water instead of pesticide spray.

 Apply pesticide only where needed and do not blanket the spray over an area.

Soil Erosion Control -

• Cover bare soil with vegetation
• Use mulch in heavy traffic areas where vegetation cannot be reestablished
• Place stones at pipe outlets to slow down rainwater and promote infiltration
• Use a splash block at downspouts to slow water flow.
• Stabilize steep hills with terraces made of wood or stone
• Plant trees, shrubs and ground covers as buffers
• Use raised beds for gardens to minimize soil loss from runoff

 

For specific recommendations for year-round lawn care, visit the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's A Virginian’s Year-Round Guide to Yard Care document.

For more general information about lawn and garden activities, please visit the Virginia Cooperative Extension website.

Car wash waste water contains many pollutants, such as heavy metals, fine dust and dirt, soaps and cleaners that can pollute nearby streams if it is not treated or infiltrated. To reduce stormwater pollution from washing your vehicle: 

• Use a commercial car wash that recycles its water and sends it to a wastewater treatment plan (WWTP) for treatment.
  
  
• When washing at home, wash your car on pervious surfaces where the water can infiltrate into the ground instead of running off impervious driveways and streets.
  
  
• Check for and fix leaks immediately using drip pans to prevent them from contaminating stormwater runoff.
  
  
• Vehicle waste should be stored and/or disposed of property and never poured into storm drains. Dumping used motor oil into storm drains is illegal.  Heavy metals and other toxins contaminate the soil and water sources posing a health hazard to people and the environment. 

Used motor oil is the single largest source of oil pollution.  Town residents may dispose of the used motor oil and other automotive items at the Loudoun County Landfill Recycling Center. Click link for more information.

• Keep your car tuned up. Smooth running cars burn less fuel and regular tune-ups also reduce the amount of pollutes in the car’s exhaust.
  
  
• Use alternatives sources of transportation than your car by carpooling, taking the bus, bicycling, or walking to your destination. 
  
  
• Salt pollutes waterways and groundwater, it can kill grass and trees, as well as corrode metals.  Instead of using salt, shovel driveways and sidewalks before the snow gets packed down and icy. Use sand for traction where needed. When the snow melts, make sure to sweep it up after the snow melts to keep it out of stormwater drains and streams.

Many products found in homes contain chemicals that can be potentially harmful to both people and the environment.  These products are considered hazardous and include such things as oven cleaners, paint removers, insecticides, solvents, drain cleaners etc.  It is important for homeowners and businesses to dispose of the products properly so they do not contaminate the environment.  If toxic or hazardous wastes are disposed of with regular garbage, they could destroy landfill liners and compromise the disposal area.  Properly disposing of household hazardous wastes ensures that contamination through leaks and spills does not occur.  

When use of hazardous household products is unavoidable, be sure not to flush them down the drain.  Household drains lead to either a septic system or wastewater treatment plants which do not have the adequate capability to remove hazardous chemicals from wastewater.  Toxic chemicals disrupt microbial processes in septic tanks and treatment plants, reducing their effectiveness.  Toxins from hazardous products pass through the treatment process and can contaminate water resources.  Hazardous products should never be poured down a storm sewer drain which is transported untreated into nearby waterways. 

Common Household hazardous products:

• Products labeled as toxic, flammable, or corrosive
• Cleaning products: oven cleaner, floor wax, furniture polish, drain cleaner, spot remover
• Car products: motor oil, battery acid, gasoline, car wax, engine cleaner, antifreeze, degreaser, radiator flush, rust preventative
• Home Improvement: paints, preservatives, strippers, cleaners, solvents

To Reduce Hazardous Waste Pollution:

Use non-toxic alternatives as opposed to conventional household cleaners whenever possible.

As Town residents, take household hazardous wastes to a Loudoun County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event. Find a schedule of each year's events and locations by clicking the link above.

Pet waste is not good fertilizer for the grass; it is a health risk to people and animals.  The bacteria in pet waste is often washed down storm drains polluting waterways.  Whether out walking or at home, pick up after your pet and dispose of the waste properly.

• Flushing pet waste is the best disposal method because it is treated through a sewage treatment plant or septic system. When not available, such as when out walking with your pet, bring plastic bags with you to dispose of your pet's waste in the trash.

Keep a supply of bags at hand or reuse old bags.  You can also use a pooper scooper or a yard doggie digester system for disposal.

• Encourage other pet owners to collect their pet’s waste so it will not wash into storm drains and streams.
  
  
• Many HOA communities and Town parks have posted signs and have installed pet waste disposal stations to encourage owners to pick up after their pets.

Pet waste management results in cleaner neighborhoods, improved aesthetics, and better quality. Scoop the poop!

 

Discharges from residential can impact water quality and aquatic life if done improperly. For this reason, It is important to understand how proper pool maintenance can help keep our waterways clean and reduce stormwater pollution. Follow the steps below for a successful and stormwater friendly pool season.

• Clean the pool, hot tub, or fountain regularly, maintain proper chlorine levels and maintain water filtration and circulation. Doing so will limit the need to drain the facility. Never clean a pool filter in the street or near a storm drain. Release in a vegetated area once water is dechlorinated and if the area is not connected to a sanitary sewer system. Store pool cleaners and chemicals indoors or in a containment area that reduces exposure to outdoor elements.

• Prevent algae problems with regular cleaning, consistent adequate chlorine levels, and well maintained water filtration and circulation systems.  If the dechlorination process selected requires the water to be stored for a time, it should be contained within the pool or appropriate temporary storage container, away from streets and storm drains

• Dechlorinate water with a neutralizing chemical or allow chlorine to dissipate for a few days before another chlorine treatment in order to recycle or reuse water. Try to avoid using copper based algaecides, since copper is toxic to plant life. Instead use chlorine, organic polymers or other alternatives.  Routinely ensure that the pool system is free of leaks and operates within the design parameters.
  
  
  

DRAINAGE AND DISPOSAL OF WASTEWATER 

Always contact the Town's Utilities Department prior to discharging into the sanitary sewer system. Pool water must be dechlorinated to no measurable chlorine before reaching receiving water. If the water is not dechlorinated it must be discharged to the sanitary sewer if permitted. Always test water prior to discharge to ensure that chlorine is not present. Ensure chlorine is 0 and the pH is between 6-9. Dechlorinate water with a neutralizing chemical or allow chlorine to dissipate for a few days before another chlorine treatment in order to recycle or reuse water. Try to avoid using copper based algaecides, since copper is toxic to plant life. Instead use chlorine, organic polymers or other alternatives.  Routinely ensure that the pool system is free of leaks and operates within the design parameters. Never discharge pool water to the storm drainage system without approval from Town stormwater staff.

Chlorine Pools: Test the water. Chlorine levels must be at 0 and pH must be between 6-9 BEFORE pumping the water to a storm drain, creek, or lake! Chlorine will evaporate if the water sits for about a week. The warmer the weather, the quicker the chlorine evaporates, so it may not take 7 days. Dechlorination tabs may be used to dechlorinate.

Salt Water Pools: Please NEVER allow a contractor to pump salt water into a storm drain, creek or lake. It can hurt/kill aquatic life like frogs, fish & organisms they eat.