LEAVES ARE FALLING; KEEP THEM OUT OF STORM DRAINS
Autumn is a beautiful time, with crisp temperatures and leaves turning colors. Those leaves eventually fall, and where they end up makes a big difference for flood control.
The city’s storm drain inlets — rectangular holes cut into street curbs — were designed to collect and empty rain water into a nearby river or lake, preventing neighborhoods from flooding.
When leaves or grass clippings are intentionally swept or blown into streets, they don’t just disappear. Some leaves and clippings are carried by rainwater through the drains and end up in a nearby river or lake, possibly endangering fish and aquatic life.
But some leaves don’t make it out of storm drains at all. They pile up, get stuck, clog drains and eventually stink. Rainwater gets left in the streets and, over time, could lead to neighborhood flooding.
If lawn contractors use leaf blowers on your yard, tell them not to blow leaves or grass clippings into the street or down storm drain inlets.
When storm drains are used as a dumping ground, the results can be disastrous, costly and smelly.
Options for fall leaf collection:
- Mow over leaves and let them remain on your yard — it’s good for the soil.
- Compost leaves and use them as fertilizer on your yard or garden.
- Purchase from the city a green yard card for yard trimmings. There’s no charge for weekly pickup.
- Bag leaves in brown paper yard bags for weekly pickup. There’s no limit on the number of bags you can set out. Never put leaves in plastic bags for curbside collection.
- Take leaves to one of the city’s free drop-off stations: 2400 Brennan Ave., 5150 Martin Luther King Freeway, 6260 Old Hemphill Road.
Call 817-392-EASY (3279) to learn more.
Source: City of Fort Worth