Protect our waterways and improve your lawn at the same time!

It’shappening in every neighborhood, maybe at your own house, and you probably don’t know that you, or your neighbors, are breaking the law.  After cutting the grass, many people blow or sweep grass clippings into the street or to the curbline.  But it is a violation of City of Burleson code to discharge yard waste into the storm sewer system (including streets, curbs, ditches, manmade channels, and storm drains). 

Improper disposal of yard waste can pollute waterways.  When yard waste such as grass clippings, fallen leaves, bush trimmings, yard and garden debris and brush get blown into the streets during landscape maintenance, they are eventually washed into the storm drain system during rain storms or as runoff from lawn irrigation systems.  Unlike sanitary sewers, anything dumped into the storm drain system flows directly to the nearest creek or river without any treatment to remove contaminants.  Organic materials such as grass clippings deplete the oxygen level in the water, which is harmful to aquatic life.  Yard waste can clog the storm drain system and cause flooding of neighborhood streets. Read more.

Maintain and drain your pool wisely.

As you sit by the pool staying cool in the sweltering Texas heat, did you know that the water in your pool could be a source of pollution?  Without realizing it, you could be polluting our waterways by draining your swimming pool into the street or directly into a storm drain.  Even though it is safe for you and your family to splash around in it, swimming pool water may contain significant levels of chlorine or other chemicals used in treating, disinfecting, or cleaning your swimming pool that can be harmful to aquatic organisms.  Anything discharged into storm drains, including swimming pool water, will eventually end up in the nearest creeks, streams or area lakes without being treated. Once in our waterways these substances may be toxic to aquatic life and wildlife. Additional treatment is also required to remove these pollutants from area lakes where we get our drinking water supply. Read more.

Menu for cleaner water for the food service industry.

        
Did you know that it is illegal to discharge wastewater or water containing soaps, detergents, cleaning products, grease, etcetera into streets or down curb inlets? This informational brochure is designed to help people working in the food service industry learn about preferred cleaning practices, especially as they pertain to grease and oil, dumpsters, floor mats, filters, garbage cans, spills, and mop water. Read more.

Landscape Techniques

Texas SmartScape® helps homeowners learn to use native and adapted plants to beautify their yards. These hardy plants require less water, fertilizers, and pesticides, all while providing a green and beautiful outdoor environment that native birds and butterflies will love to call home. North Texans can learn more about using native and adapted plants by visiting www.txsmartscape.com. For more information on Burleson's Smartscape® activities can be accessed here.

Learn more about your watershed

The City of Burleson is now a partner in a region-wide effort to raise awareness about watershed resources in North Central Texas.  The E-Life project is funded by the Texas Soil and Water Conservation Board.  The project is a partnership between local, state, and federal agencies, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, and the local CBS television affiliate.  It is designed to deliver a series of television news segments and a specialized website to provide information about the pollution of waterways and how to prevent it.  Visit the NCTCOG website and click on the link to E-Life to learn more about the watershed resources in the local region and to find out about the numerous pollution prevention and environmental education programs being hosted by participating local governments.