Storm Water Regulations

A GUIDE TO HEALTHY HABITS FOR CLEANER WATER

Pollution on the ground, in streets & parking lots, fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides on lawns, are carried by rainwater into storm drains From there they enter our streams, lakes, groundwater and eventually into bays and oceans. These pollutants not only foul up our recreational waters, but also find their way into our drinking water supplies.

Polluted runoff is one of the largest contributors to the degradation of our streams, etc., and remains one of the greatest threats to clean and plentiful water, and that is why we are asking you to help do something about it. Fertilizer, oil, pesticides, herbicides, detergents, animal waster, leaves, and grass clippings all contribute to polluted waterways and by sharing a portion of the responsibility and making small meaningful changes in our daily lives, we can help keep these pollutants out of stromwater runoff.

As part of the new Federal Phase II, stormwater regulations and New Jerseys' initiative to help clean-up it's water, Freehold Township and other public agencies have adopted regulations to control pollution in stormwater. Part of the regulations is to adopt ordinances to prohibit various activities that can add to stormwater pollution.

As residents of New Jersey, it is important to remember these easy things you can do to help contribute to restoring the health of our streams.

1) LIMIT YOUR USE OF FERTILIZERS AND PESTICIDES

    • Do a soil test to see if you need a fertilizer

    • Do not apply a fertilizer if heavy rain is predicted.

    • Look into alternatives for pesticides

    • Maintain a small lawn and keep the rest of your property or yard in a natural state
      with trees and other vegetation that require little or no fertilizer.

    • If you use fertilizer and pesticides, follow the instructions on the label on how to
      correctly apply it.

2) PROPERLY USE AND DISPOSE OF HAZARDOUS PRODUCTS

    • Hazardous products include household & commercial cleaning products,
      lawn and garden care products, motor oil, antifreeze and paints.

    • Do not pour any hazardous products down a storm drain. Storms drains are
     connected to local water bodies, and the water is not treated.

    • If you have hazardous products in your home or workplace, make sure you store or
      dispose of them properly. Read the label for guidance.

    • Use natural or less toxic alternatives when possible.

    • Recycle motor oil.

    • If you spill, leak and/or discharge any hazardous waster, use dry clean-up
     methods such as cat litter or products specifically designed for this purpose.

3) CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR PET

    • Freehold Township has a new ordinance regarding pet-waste. An example requires
      pet owners or their keepers to pick up and properly dispose of
      pet waste dropped on public or private property.

    • Make sure you know the ordinance requirements and comply with them.

    • Use newspaper, bags or pooper-scoopers to pick up waste.

    • Dispose of the wrapped pet waste in the trash or unwrapped in a toilet.

    • Never discard pet waste in a storm drain.

4) DO NOT FEED WILDLIFE

    • Do not feed wildlife, such as ducks or geese, anywhere within the Township.

5) DO NOT LITTER

    • Place litter in closed trash receptacles.

    • Place recyclables in a closed, locking container - pick-up cans, bottles, etc. that may
      spill out of the recycle bin

    • Participate in community group cleanups.

6) DISPOSE OF YARD WASTE PROPERLY

    • Keep leaves and grass out of the street & do not put leaves out until 7 days prior
     to pick-up. Do not put leaves closer than 10' from a drainage inlet.

    • Use leaves and grass clippings as a resource for compost.

    • Use a mulching mower that recycles grass clippings into the lawn.

7) KEEP POLLUTION OUT OF STORM DRAINS

    • Municipalities and other public agencies are required to mark certain storm drain
      inlets with messages reminding people that storm drains are connected to local
      waterbodies. Freehold Township has developed our own unique logo and we have
      labeled our storm drain inlets.

    • Do not let sewage or other waste flow into a stormwater system.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published The Phase II Stormwater Rules in December 1999, and NJDEP has adopted the rules and developed The Municipal Stormwater Regulations Program to implement these rules. The NJDEP has issued the Township a permit, and we have already implemented a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program. The program includes modifying existing Stormwater inlets to prevent floatables from entering the waterways, outfall mapping, local public education, illicit connection removals and improper disposal of waste to name a few. Freehold Township has also recently adopted several ordinances to comply with the new stormwater regulations.

Click here for more information on Watershed Management , call the Township Engineering Department at 732-294-2070 or e-mail us at engineer@twp.freehold.nj.us.