Illicit discharges are easiest to spot when there hasn’t been rainfall or snowmelt for at least 72 hours (3 days). If you spot a storm drain or a pipe leading to a waterway that has an unusual odor, suds, an oil sheen, or flowing water during dry weather, you may have found an illicit discharge. If you think that there is an illicit discharge in your community, contact an official in your community to address the problem.

Car washing and Maintenance

Maintenance: Be mindful when fixing your car to reduce leaks of oil, coolant, antifreeze, and other hazardous fluids.

• Read the labels and buy the least toxic option available.

• Perform maintenance when it's not raining, away from storm drains, and on a water resistant surface.

• In case of a leak, use a drip pan to catch the fluids and be sure to clean up any spills immediately.

• Properly dispose of all used chemicals, liquids, and cleaning solvents at your local hazardous waste disposal site. A single quart of motor oil can pollute 250,000 gallons of drinking water. If you don’t have a place to recycle used motor oil in your community, ask your local sanitation or public works department to create one. 

Washing: Be “green” when washing your car. Skip the home carwash and take your car to a professional carwash as they’re required to treat the water before it is discharged. This spares our local rivers and lakes from the brake fluid, oil, and automotive fluids that could otherwise contaminate our water. Many carwashes also recycle their wastewater and use less than half the amount of water a home carwash does. Ask around to find a carwash that practices wastewater recycling. Alternatively, you can “wash” your car at home using a waterless carwash product.

Pool water

Chlorine may keep our pools clean, but it harms aquatic ecosystems and is toxic to fish and wildlife. Residents and pool owners living in cool climates often drain their pools before winter to reduce maintenance and potential damage from freezing. To ensure that pool water does not make its way into our rivers and lakes, NEVER drain it into your driveway, storm drains, sewers, septic systems, or directly into bodies of water. Do the following instead…

1. Dechlorinate your pool water. Dechlorination is the process of removing chlorine from water. It is an important step in the drainage process as it helps protect biodiversity and aquatic health. You can naturally do so by letting the water sit under direct sunlight for 2-7 days (depending on the size of the pool), without the addition of chlorine or other chemicals. Be sure that the filter backwash is also free of chlorine and other chemicals.

2. Test the pH. The pH is the measurement to test a solution's acidity or basicity. You can check the pH level with test strips, liquid drop kits, digital pool testers, or professional lab testing. Make sure the pH is near neutral (pH 7) before draining the pool water. Adjust the pH if necessary. A neutral pH ensures it is safe for aquatic life.

3. Drain onto a vegetated surface on your property. Once you’ve dechlorinated the water and ensured a neutral pH, remove any excess sediment and debris. The pool is then ready to be drained. Drain slowly across a vegetated area on your property. Doing so at a slow rate allows the water to infiltrate into the ground and helps prevent erosion. Avoid draining the water onto your neighbor’s property and creating puddles. Do NOT drain onto a vegetated area on a rainy day or when soil is already saturated, and NEVER drain into impermeable surfaces like your driveway or into storm drains, sewers, or septic systems. Always check your local municipality’s guidelines prior to draining your pool.

Household Waste Disposal

Household hazardous wastes is defined by the Wisconsin DNR as “any waste product found in your home, yard or garage that can cause substantial harm to human health or the environment when improperly managed”. This can include cleaners, pool chemicals, paints, stains, pesticides, and more!

To learn more about alternatives and safe disposal, visit this fact page. Click on your county below to see where to dispose of hazardous waste items. Unsure of which county you reside in or don’t see your county? Visit your Municipalities' website for their hazardous waste disposal instructions.