Steps to Reduce Pollution, Erosion, and Flooding

Below are some steps that residents can take to decrease erosion, pollution, and even reduce flooding:
  • Pick up after your pet
  • Use lawn chemicals sparingly - Go natural instead of using chemical products; consider compost or natural lawn-chemical alternatives.
  • Use stormwater for your lawn and garden - You can do some things to control stormwater runoff and at the same time beneficially use this water for your lawn and garden. The idea is to allow the stormwater from your home’s hard surfaces to spread out and absorb into the ground or your lawn before it enters the storm water drainage system.

    One simple way to do this is to let your roof downspouts discharge to your yard instead of piping it underground to the nearest stream, storm water inlet, or street curb. Allowing the water to absorb into the ground or run across your lawn allows natural filtration and reduces the flow entering the nearby stream.
  • Consider building a rain garden - If you are planning on installing a garden or a landscaping project, consider constructing a rain garden, which uses native plants and also can absorb rainwater into the ground and reduce stormwater runoff. Rain gardens are also an excellent choice for the low spot in your yard that holds water.

    Instead of filling the area in and allowing the water to flow away, capture the water in your new beautiful rain garden, which can provide color to your lawn year round. Learn more at:
  • Get a rain barrel - Rain barrels are another great way that you can capture roof runoff and beneficially use the rainwater for watering outside plants and lawns on dry days. Using captured rainwater can reduce your water bill, too. Rain barrels are available for sale at a number of local businesses.
  • Don't dump waste -  Throw away all trash where it belongs. Learn more about solid waste disposal in Blue Springs by visiting the Residential Disposal page. In Blue Springs, trash disposal, recycling, and yard waste is made easy with curbside service. And, you can recycle items at Blue Springs Recycling Center.
  • Don't shoot your grass clippings into the street / sidewalk - Point your mower so that it throws grass clippings onto your yard, not the street. To further reduce yard waste, use a mulching mower.

    For the best results for your lawn, "cut it high and let it lie." This means that when you mow the lawn, you cut it at a higher length so that the grass clippings mulch your lawn but won't choke your lawn. Alternatively, you could mow lower but more often.
  • Recycle your hazardous waste - Hazardous waste includes household chemicals, paints, motor oil, cooking oils, etc. Learn more about where you can recycle hazardous wastes.
  • Don't allow soil to erode your property - Sediment is also a pollutant in streams. Keep up your lawn and use landscaping to avoid bare spots.
  • Report illegal dumping - Illegal dumping is dumping of any waste upon any public right-of-way, city property or private property, without consent of the owner. To report illegal dumping of solid waste or dumping into storm sewers, view the Service Point page.