Did You Know?

 Did you know that in most counties and municipalities that it is actually illegal to blow your grass clippings, leaves and other debris into the storm drain? We often receive requests from our customers to do this, and it is often not understood why we cannot do it. These county and city codes exist for several reasons. One, the debris that is blown into the drain can clump together inside storm water system. Once it clumps together it can cause blockages in the system, which would restrict the flow of rain water. When that flow is restricted, the water has no place to go except for back into streets, causing flooding. That flooding can cause extreme damage to our roadways, homes, cars, and other property. Standing floodwater also can pose threats to our health.

 

Another reason it is illegal to blow yard waste into the street or into the storm drain is the pollution caused by the debris. Grass clippings and other debris are made of primarily nitrogen and phosphorous. When these two elements are introduced in large quantities to our lakes and rivers, our waterways can be damaged. These elements can cause algae blooms, which deplete the oxygen in the water, thus causing fish and other wildlife to perish. This is one of the most common causes of fish kills in lakes and rivers.

 

Instead of blowing debris into storm drains, it should be blown back into the landscape. Contrary to popular belief, grass clippings blown back into a lawn are actually good for the lawn. As stated before, grass clippings contain high amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous, which are two of the main ingredients in most fertilizers. When those clippings decompose, they actually fertilize your lawn. This is not a substitute for regularly fertilizing your lawn, but is a bonus feeding for your lawn.

 

For more information contact us:

 

www.hibiscuslandscapes.com 

 

 info@hibiscuslandscapes.com

 

Here is the county code from Seminole, County FL as it relates to storm drains.

 

Sec. 270.397. – Stormwater Discharges to the County's MS4 and Waters of the United States.

(a)
Prohibition of Illegal Discharges. No Person may Discharge or cause to be Discharged into the County's MS4 or other watercourses any materials, including but not limited to Pollutants or waters containing any Pollutants that cause or contribute to a violation of applicable water quality standards, other than Stormwater. Discharges to the County's MS4 must be controlled to the extent that such Discharges do not impair the operation of the County's MS4 or contribute to the failure of the County's MS4 to meet any local, state or federal requirements, including, but not limited to, NPDES Permit No. FLS000038.