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Environmental Resources

Public education and outreach program

UVA has worked with its municipal partners through the Rivanna Stormwater Education Partnership to develop a Public Education and Outreach Plan for stormwater pollution prevention in the local area. The plan also includes an addendum with activities specific to UVA. UVA is always seeking public input and suggestions related to the plan, the targeted issues, and proposed outreach methods. Background information on the plan, the partners, and how the program was created is outlined in the following: MS4 Outreach Presentation.

Love Your Watershed - rivanna-stormwater.org

If you would like to comment on the Public Education and Outreach plan, please submit comments by emailing storm-water@virginia.edu.

Members of the UVA community who are interested in helping to improve stormwater on Grounds are encouraged to get involved with or learn more about UVA Clean Water through the team's Facebook page.

Through the Rivanna Stormwater Education Partnership, UVA is helping to encourage students, faculty, staff, and community members to Love Your Watershed.

Continue reading the stormwater pollution prevention tips below and learn more about all the ways you can love your watershed.

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Tips

How to Respect Our Sewers from UVA Sustainability on Vimeo.

Listed below are tips to help prevent pollution on Grounds and in the community.

  • Follow all University standard operating procedures.
  • Follow Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans for your facility, if applicable.
  • Wash University vehicles only at UVA Parking and Transportation, the Facilities Management wash bay, or at a commercial car wash.
    • At home, wash your car on the grass or at a car wash that recycles its water.
  • Dispose of cleaning water into sanitary sewer drains only.
  • Contact UVA Environmental Health and Safety to properly dispose of laboratory and hazardous waste.
  • If you need to wash equipment or surfaces outside at UVA, please refer to the appropriate SOP to ensure wash water does not impact local streams.
  • Walk on paved paths and sidewalks — creating dirt paths increases erosion and sediment runoff.
  • Cigarette butts are litter too, so properly dispose of them in appropriate waste receptacles.
  • Pick up your pet's waste and dispose of it properly, as runoff contaminated with pet waste is harmful to streams and the people that use them for recreation.
  • Use fertilizer and pesticides sparingly and when used, apply according to label directions.
  • Sweep up grass and other vegetated clippings from sidewalks, roadways, and gutters.
  • Direct water from downspouts into vegetated areas or collect it in a rain barrel to use for watering plants.
  • Never dump anything down a storm drain!