Illicit discharges are easiest to spot when there hasn’t been rainfall or snowmelt for at least 72 hours (3 days). If you spot a storm drain or a pipe leading to a waterway that has an unusual odor, suds, an oil sheen, or flowing water during dry weather, you may have found an illicit discharge. If you think that there is an illicit discharge in your community, contact an official in your community to address the problem.

Car washing and Maintenance

Maintenance: Keep up with car maintenance to reduce leaks of oil, coolant, antifreeze and other hazardous fluids. A single quart of motor oil can pollute 250,000 gallons of drinking water. If you don’t have a place to recycle used motor oil in your community, ask your local sanitation or public works department to create one. 

Washing: Be “green” when washing your car. Skip the home carwash and take your car to a professional carwash as they’re required to treat the water before it is discharged. This spares our local rivers and lakes from the brake fluid, oil, and automotive fluids that could otherwise contaminate our water. Many carwashes also recycle their wastewater and use less than half the amount of water a home carwash does. Ask around to find a carwash that practices wastewater recycling. Alternatively, you can “wash” your car at home using a waterless carwash product.

Household Waste Disposal

Household hazardous wastes is defined by the Wisconsin DNR as “any waste product found in your home, yard or garage that can cause substantial harm to human health or the environment when improperly managed”. This can include cleaners, pool chemicals, paints, stains, pesticides, and more! To learn more about alternatives and safe disposal, visit this fact page. Click on your county below to see where to dispose of hazardous wastes. Unsure of which county you reside in or don’t see your county? Visit your Municipalities' website for their hazardous waste disposal instructions.