Residential Practices

Residential pollution prevention practices are household and neighborhood activities that prevent or reduce the contamination of stormwater.

Key Considerations

Residential pollution prevention practices prevent or reduce stormwater contamination from residential sources such as yards, driveways, sidewalks, and household products.

These practices are often simple, low cost behavioral changes that improve subwatershed water quality by minimizing the introduction of pollutants including sediment, nutrients, metals, bacteria, trash, oil, and toxins.

Each of these practices are highly suitable and effective in cold climates. Table 12.PREV.1 indicates the pollutants controlled by various residential pollution prevention practices while Table 12.PREV.2 describes some of the methods used for each of these practices. See Photo Credits and References for further information

Residential practices pollutant controls


We anticipate eventually including information for specific pollution prevention practices. For now, you can access the pollution prevention fact sheets from the original Stormwater Manual using the following link: File:Pollution Prevention.docx

Practice Method Image
Fertilizer and pesticide management Reduce or eliminate the need for fertilizer and pesticides by practicing natural lawn care, planting native vegetation, and limiting chemical use; follow Minnesota Statutes Chapter 18C and federal regulatory requirements on fertilizer and pesticide storage and application if used.
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