Residential prevention practices for bacteria

Residential pollution prevention methods effective for controlling or reducing bacteria. Source: modified from the Center for Watershed Protection.
Link to this table

Practice	Relative effectiveness	Method	Image1
Litter and Animal Waste Control	High	Properly dispose of pet waste and litter in a timely manner and according to local ordinance requirements.
Yard Waste Management	Low	Prevent yard waste from entering storm sewer systems and water bodies by either composting or using curbside pickup services and avoiding accumulation of yard waste on impervious surfaces; keep grass clippings and leaves out of the street.
Septic Tank Maintenance	High
Exposed Soil Repair	Low	Use native vegetation or grass to cover and stabilize exposed soil on lawns to prevent sediment wash off.
Native Landscaping	Low	Reduce turf areas by planting native species to reduce and filter pollutant-laden runoff and prevent the spread of invasive, non-native plant species into the storm sewer system.
Healthy Lawns	Low	Maintain thick grass planted in organic-rich soil to a height of at least 3 inches to prevent soil erosion, filter stormwater contaminants, and absorb airborne pollutants; limit or eliminate chemical use and water and repair lawn as needed
Proper lawn irrigation and watering2	Medium-high	Over-watering lawns has been shown to be an important source of bacteria to streets and sidewalks. Implement appropriate watering practices to avoid runoff from pervious surfaces where animals (e.g. birds, mammals) are active.	3

¹ Photo credits
²For tips on proper watering, see this page
³Image courtesy Chesapeake Lawn Service