Each time it rains, run-off from the street picks up litter, motor oil, pet wastes, excess fertilizaers and pesticides, leaves and grass clippings. This non-point source pollution reaches our waterways via storm drains. Listed below are specific types of pollution that enter aquatic areas through storm drains, and ways you can help prevent the pollution. Street litter, such as plastic bags, cups, or candy wrappers, often ends up floating in the ocean or washing up on our beaches. A great deal of street litter is made of plastic, which can take hundreds of years to degrade.
Marine animals can mistake plastic for food and can become entangled in it.
Put all litter, including cigarette butts and fast food containers, into garbage cans. Never throw litter in streets or down storm drains. Minimize your use of disposable plastic products and make sure that the plastics you do use get put in the trash. If you see street litter, pick it up so that it doesn't get washed down or blown into a storm drain, gutter, or local stream. Fertilizers contain large amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen which can cause algal blooms in aquatic areas.