You Dump It -- You Drink It!

Storm drains are for collecting rainwater. Some people believe they can dump motor oil, soapsuds, household cleaners, paints, anti-freeze, pesticides, and other hazardous wastes into their storm drain. This is wrong. Wastes from storm drains flow directly into nearby water bodies.

Toxic chemicals . like motor oil and household cleaning products . wash directly from storm drains, untreated, into lakes, streams, and rivers. Toxic chemicals are harmful to fish, fish eggs, and other wildlife living in and around the lake or stream. Raccoons, deer, birds, and other wildlife that drink the water or eat contaminated fish or other aquatic animals may also become sick.

Eventually, humans eat the contaminated animals and fish. Sometimes whole communities draw their drinking water from the contaminated lakes and rivers. This happens all because some people use their storm drain as a dump for garbage and wastes, instead of for the intended purpose of collecting rainwater.

Please help keep our waterways clean. Never dump any substance down a storm drain inlet. If you see someone dumping into a storm drain, please contact the Navasota Public Works office at 936-825-6450.