Did you know? Pervious surfaces, such as meadows and woodlands, absorb and infiltrate rainfall and hence generate little stormwater runoff. Urban landscaping typically covers such areas with impervious surfaces such as pavement and rooftops. These impervious surfaces generate runoff every time it rains. (A typical city block generates nine times more runoff than a woodland area of the same size!) The quantity of runoff from these areas quickly overwhelm natural channels and streams, often causing channel erosion, localized flooding and property damage. Pervious and impervious surfaces in urban areas collect pollutants such as automobile oil, grease, brake pad dust, sediment from construction sites, bacteria from animal waste, excess lawn care fertilizers and pesticides, as well as atmospheric deposition of phosphorus, nitrogen and other airborne pollutants. Rainfall washes across the land surfaces so that the initial flush of runoff can carry high concentrations of these pollutants to nearby drinking water supplies, waterways, beaches and properties. Pollution washed from the land surface by rainfall is called nonpoint source pollution. What can you do to protect your local stream and Bay? Volunteer to Lead a Storm Drain Marking Project in Your Neighborhood Contact the Town of Vienna Department of Public Works at 703-255-6343 to get started. We supply the materials, you supply the legwork. Together we can educate our communities about the connection between our storm drains and our streams. Nothing Down the Storm Drain Except Water Adopt your local storm drain and keep it clear of trash and debris, dispose of pet waste in your trash can or toilet. Recycle used motor oil quarterly at the Town's Northside Property Yard. Practice Bay-friendly Lawn Care Check the forecast before applying chemicals, including fertilizers, to your lawn and compost yard debris. Try using Virginia native plants to reduce your garden's chemical needs. Report Storm Drain Dumping Call the Town of Vienna's Department of Public Works Environmental Concern Line at 703-255-6343. After hours call the Vienna Police Dept. nonemergency phone at 703-255-6366. Vienna is a Clean Water Partner with http://www.OnlyRain.org. You can help prevent nonpoint source pollution in many ways. some examples are: maintaining grass on all exposed areas of your yard, not dumping any chemicals on the ground, and always put litter and trash in a can or bag. For more information try these websites: The Virginia Department of Conservation: www.dcr.state.va.us The Northern Virginia Soil & Water Conservation District: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/nvswcd Recycling Recycling is collected on Thursday and Fridays. Brush must be bundled and cut in four-foot lengths. The diameter for brush collected in bundles is limited to 1 1/2 inches. Newspapers, flattened cardboard, catalogs, junk mail, telephone books and mixed paper are to be placed in a brown paper bag (not plastic bags) or bundled with cord. All cans, bottles, and plastic jug-type material, aluminum foil & pie plates, must be placed together in a see-through plastic bag. All recycling must be placed out at the curb by 7:00 a.m. If you have any questions, please call 703-255-6382. In the event of inclement weather -- snow, ice, hurricane, etc. -- recycling will be picked up on the next regularly scheduled pickup day. Recycled Cell Phones Help U.S. Troops Call Home Do you have an unused cell phone sitting on a shelf or in a drawer? The Vienna Police Department, at 215 Center St., S., is a drop-off point for the Cell Phones for Soldiers program. Cell Phones for Soldiers is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization that was started by two Norwell, MA, teenagers to help buy pre-paid calling cards to send to U.S. service personnel overseas. The program also sends video phones to units in the Middle East and to their home base as well so families can see each other as they talk. For more information, visit www.CellPhonesForSoldiers.com. All makes and models of cell phones and accessories are accepted. Donation receipts for tax purposes are available. Why recycle cell phones? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established that mobile phones count as hazardous waste, due to their content of lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic. Recycling your old cell phone and keeping it out of the landfill is an easy way to help protect the environment.