Do you put a hose from your pool to the street to empty your pool?

 

Do you know that the water goes into the street and down the storm drain.  Storm drains do NOT go to the sewer treatment plant. They lead to the nearest body of water, for instance Takanassee Lake.

 

So what can you do?

Swimming Pool Waste Water Fountains are designed to re-purpose properly balanced swimming pool waste water for irrigation.  They can be used with sand or cartridge filtration systems.  Their spray aerates waste water by sending it approximately six feet into the air.  The returning water falls back to the ground like rain typically covering 100 square feet where it can be absorbed into the soil and water the grass.

And what about the grass?  Chlorine levels are reduced through the process of aerating swimming pool water.

Waste Water Fountains also reduce the soil erosion normally caused by the forceful blast of a wastewater hose.

Construction is typically durable HDPE plastic.  Some models are light enough to carry around with your fingertips.  The ones made of HDPE are also recyclable.

You can also talk to someone from your Green Team and ask them to add an ordinance to your town Master Plan.

Here is a sample of a town ordinance in Monmouth County. Check your town’s stormwater ordinance and see what it says.

Per ordinance, it is unlawful to discard, spill or dump any material other than storm water into the municipal storm water system. Further, an illicit connection which is defined as any system that discharges domestic sewerage, swimming pool water, process wastewater or pollutants, is prohibited from discharging to the storm water system. Swimming pool water must be disposed of on the pool owner’s property.  Waste water fountains are a good option to reduce water consumption, recycle pool water onsite and minimize soil erosion. The purpose of this ordinance is pollution and contamination prevention.

 

Swimming Pool Waste Water Fountains are designed to re-purpose properly balanced swimming pool waste water for irrigation.  They can be used with sand or cartridge filtration systems.  Their spray aerates waste water by sending it approximately six feet into the air.  The returning water falls back to the ground like rain typically covering 100 square feet where it can be absorbed into the soil and water the grass.

And what about the grass?  Chlorine levels are reduced through the process of aerating swimming pool water.

Waste Water Fountains also reduce the soil erosion normally caused by the forceful blast of a wastewater hose.

Construction is typically durable HDPE plastic.  Some models are light enough to carry around with your fingertips.  The ones made of HDPE are also recyclable.

 

 

People enjoying the new shelter at Ross Island Park in Long Branch.A glimpse of the Whale Pond Brook in Ocean Township along the Cindy Lane Trail.

The Wild Rivers National Monument, New Mexico  was created this year and is already under ‘review’ by Secretary Zinke.  So remember, whether it be the confluence of the Rio Grande and the Red River in New Mexico or our Cranberry Brook and

Whale Pond Brook, we love and try to protect our rivers and watersheds. Last month at our local Sierra Club meeting we generated 19 letters to Secretary Zinke urging him to protect our national monuments and parks.  At the local level, please join us in our clean-ups, educational efforts,  trail building and gardening.  Get to know your watershed. Check out the events page on how you can get involved.

oh please pick me, pick me. A fun, hands-on Whale Pond Brook watershed ecology and non-point source pollution lesson was taught to 4 sixth grade science classes at the Ocean Township Intermediate school. Kevin Connelly, Brookdale Ocean Institute,  has a great way with the students and they all had a lot of fun. Hopefully we’ll get some home rain gardens out of the lesson.

For many of us, it’s that time of year to  clean up after the holidays. The post below is from Clean Ocean Action, a local non-profit organization dedicated to ocean advocacy.  www.cleanoceanaction.org

Read on about how to deal with holiday decorations!

 

The holiday season has come to a close. Now what are you to do with your Christmas tree and decorations? Here are some tips on how to dispose of them properly: Christmas Trees. Towns throughout New Jersey offer a Christmas tree recycling mulching program. If you are unsure, call your municipality to see if this program is offered and directions on how to dispose of your tree. The most important tip to remember is to place a BARE tree on the curb for pickup; do not place the tree in a plastic bag! Did you go to town with the tinsel this year? Be sure to remove all tinsel before placing the tree on the curb. Next year opt to replace tinsel with other natural accent alternatives reducing unnecessary waste. In the past Shore communities used Christmas trees for dunes, however it has been found to be very maintenance intensive and towns have switched to other natural alternatives, such as planting dune grass. To extend the life of your tree, place it outside, providing a home for birds, and then place it on the curb in the spring for recycling.   For the towns comprising the Whale Pond Brook Watershed, here are the details about tree disposal, or who to call: EATONTOWN – Public Works Director: Frank Cannella, Jr . 732-389-7651 TINTON FALLS – Holiday/Christmas Trees. These may be placed at the curb for collection from end of December through January 13th of the new year. If you miss the tree collection, you may may bring your tree to the recycling drop-off behind Borough Hall, or wait for your scheduled zone pick-up for branches and brush. Place your tree at the curb free of ornaments and bags, as the ornaments and bags cannot be recycled. Wreaths and garlands made from trees may be placed in your refuse container. OCEAN TWP – Dept. of Public Works: Tom Crochet, CPWM Director, 732-531-5001,   tcrochet@oceantwp.org WEST LONG BRANCH – 732-229-1756 LONG BRANCH – Director of Public Works, Fred Migliaccio, CPM, CPWM (732) 571-6520 Plants. Remove your holiday poinsettias, flowers, or plants from any plastic containers and ribbons, then place plants in a compost pile or at the curb. Wreathes. Remove any bows, ribbons, or ornaments from your wreath. If you can, save the decorations for next year or donate items to a local goodwill. If in poor condition, dispose of the items properly. Unfortunately, glass ornaments cannot be recycled, please place them in the garbage. Also, remove metal frames and hardware from the wreath. You can also extend the life of your wreath by placing it outside, providing a home for birds, and then put it out in the spring for recycling. Place the greens at the curb for pickup or drop it off at your recycling center. Lights. Have strands of broken lights? Stores such as Home Depot and Ace Hardware accept lights and sometimes provide a discount on LED lights when you drop off your lights.   Unwrap. Odds are plenty of gifts were exchanged this holiday season. If you received any presents in gift bags, keep these bags to be used for next year. A tip to keep in mind for next year – don’t ball up wrapping paper since this has been known to affect recycling equipment. Also tissue paper can be reused or composted in your personal compost pile. Read more here.