Use a mulching mower or a mulching blade or put your clippings in a compost bin. Wash your car at a car wash. Cleaning your car at a car wash prevents the soaps, polishes, waxes and other chemicals from entering the storm drain system. Correct erosion problems. Use landscaping, retaining walls, and other barriers to prevent soil from washing away as silt into storm drains or directly into creeks.
Silt prevents effective drainage by blocking and displacing water.
Less than one-half of one percent of the Earth's water supply is usable fresh water. Dallas Water Utilities treats about 320 million gallons of drinking water a day from nearby lakes for residents of Dallas and customer cities. One person uses about 150 gallons of water a day. Water pollution increases the cost of producing drinking water as treatment becomes more difficult. At the present time, Dallas is fortunate to have an adequate water supply due to usually good annual rainfalls and long-range planning.