The Question: What is Stormwater Pollution?

Stormwateris water runoff from sprinklers, hoses, rain, and snow melt that flows from rooftops, over paved areas, bare soil, and sloped lawns. Stormwater runoff collects pollutants such as animal waste, litter, pesticides, fertilizers, oils and grease, and construction waste. Stormwater runoff, unlike sewage, does not go to a designated treatment.

The Answer?

Everyone in the Town of Apple Valley canhelp prevent stormwater pollution. It is often caused by everydaybehavior that you may not realize contributes to the problem. Simplebehavioral changes are all it takes to prevent stormwater pollution, if we all do our part. Find out how below:

Each of us contributes to stormwater pollutioneach day by:

You can help reduce and/or eliminate the contaminants from entering the storm drain system by:

Dropping litter on the ground, allowing paper or trash to blow into the street, and/or dropping a cigarette butt on the ground.

Avoid throwing litter into the street. Trash-laden gutters increase neighborhood pollution and clog stormdrains causing street flooding. Storm drains and flood control channelscarry surface runoff directly to the environment without treatment.Make sure that runoff carries only rainwater.

Walking your dog without picking up after it.

Pick up after your dog. Animal waste, when left on the ground, washes down into the stormdrains and contaminates our local waterways. Carry pet waste bags tomake clean up easy.

Changing oil and placing it in the gutter or trash can.

Recycle Used Motor Oil. Take your used motor oil and filters to a used oil collection facility.

Hosing leaves or dirt off driveway or sidewalk into the street or disposing yard waste in a improper manner.

Recycle your yard waste. Soggy yard waste is a major contributor to clogged storm drains andstreet and neighborhood flooding. Place your yard waste in thedesignated green containers. Make sure you "grasscycle". "Grasscycling" can save water and fertilizer.

Spraying the lawn with pesticide or watering the lawn or garden and letting the water run into the street.

Be smart when you apply pesticides or fertilizers. Do not apply pesticides or fertilizers before it rains. Do notover-water after application. Read the label and do not apply more thanrecommended. As an alternative, use yard waste as mulch, as natural fertilizer, or as ground cover.

Washing off paint brushes under an outdoor faucet.

Don’t use harsh, abrasive or toxic chemicals around the house. Select water-based products over solvent-based products when available (e.g. paint, glue, shoe polish). Also, avoid aerosol sprays – choose a pump spray or other alternatives.

Dumping trash illegally.

Report illegal dumping. To report illegal dumping, contact Apple Valley Code Enforcement at 760-240-7560 or fill out a form on the Mojave River Watershed Group's website.

Washing your cars in your driveway that allows the wash water to run onto the pavement and into a gutter.

Wash your car on the lawn or have it serviced at a local professional car wash, to prevent runoff.

Municipal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits

NPDES permits outline the regulatoryrequirements of municipal storm water management programs and establishrequirements to help protect the beneficial uses of the receivingwaters. They require permittees to develop and implement BestManagement Practices (BMPs) to control/reduce the discharge ofpollutants to waters of the United States to the maximum extentpracticable (MEP).
Final Phase II Permit

Stormwater Management Program

The August 2005 Mojave River WatershedStormwater Program was developed by the Town of Apple Valley, County of San Bernardino, and the cities of Hesperia and Victorville, to comply with the Phase II MS4 Permit. It is the principal policy and guidancedocument for the Mojave River Watershed Stormwater Program and outlines the major program milestones undertaken by each permitee. 
Mojave River Watershed Stormwater Program