2023 Final Stormwater Report

Pursuant to a permit obtained from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Village is implementing a Stormwater Management Program to reduce the impact on our tidal and freshwater wetlands from storm water runoff.  A major component of this program is the reduction of pollutants, such as pathogen containing pet wastes, trash, petroleum products, and nutrients and toxics found in lawn care and gardening products from being discarded into or from leaching into the Village’s drainage systems.  Also, feeding geese and encouraging them to become “year-around residents” creates a mess on our lawns, athletic fields and golf courses and contributes pollution to our ponds and bays. 

To meet the program goals, the Village is asking residents to get involved and help.  By being careful with waste disposal, chemical use, cleaning up after our pets and not feeding waterfowl or pigeons, we can reduce the impairments of the receiving waters and improve the aesthetics of the community.

You can help keep our environment clean by:

1.  REPORTING ILLEGAL PUMPING, DUMPING or direct connection to a drain or waterway to the
Nassau County Illicit Discharge Hotline (516) 571-7535

2.  CLEANING UP AFTER YOUR PET

Pet waste contains harmful bacteria and organisms that can spread disease. Pick up pet waste; seal it in a plastic bag, and dispose of it in trash cans.  Don't hose waste into storm drains. Drains are a direct conduit to our waterways and beaches. Help keep our neighborhood, beaches, and waterways healthy and clean.

While we all love our “feathered friends”, feeding them interrupts the natural migratory cycle.  Birds that would normally migrate south in the winter to find food, take up residence if food is “artificially” provided.  Further, these resident birds attract migrating birds that in turn will stay if food is present.  The result of artificial waterfowl feeding can be large flocks of resident birds that create a nuisance in our parks, athletic fields, golf courses and lawns, and place an extra pollution load on our waterways.  Once feeding is discontinued, geese will disperse and revert to higher quality natural foods.  Geese that depend on human handouts are also less likely to migrate when severe winter weather arrives, and are more vulnerable to disease.

If you think you must use heavy amounts of pesticides to grow a beautiful lawn, think again. A bright green, weed-free lawn can be yours by following these simple steps:

   ·      Mow your lawn only as needed. If the grass has gotten too tall, don't mow it down all at one time. Mow gradually, cutting no more than an inch off with the first mowing. Allow the lawn to recover for a day or two, and then trim another inch. Continue cutting an inch at a time until you reach the desired height.

  ·      Water wisely. Don't water on a timer. Some grasses need more water than others, so figure out what kind of grass you have before you decide to water it frequently. When you do water, soak the grass through to the roots, not just the top of the blades.

  ·     Use slow-release, organic fertilizers. Most lawn and garden centers now offer several organic fertilizers along with the more standard varieties.

   ·       Keep all toxic materials in a locked cabinet or garden shed.
If you must continue to use pesticides on a limited basis, be sure to remove children and their toys as well as pets from any area where the chemicals are being stored or used.

Garbage should be kept in containers with lids that are animal proof.  Open containers or plastic garbage bags provide an inviting target for raccoons and other wildlife.  We can keep our garbage from being strewn about the neighborhood and ending up in our waterways by using the right containers. It is important to recycle paper, plastics, glass, and metals.  Reusing these materials and keeping them out of our environment is one way to keep our waters clean.  Please help by separating paper, glass, plastics and metals and putting them out on the designated day. For information click to view our garbage and recycling webpage.

The S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) program offers residents of North Hempstead the opportunity to dispose of their household hazardous waste in an environmentally friendly manner. Many people do not realize that ordinary household products, such as aerosols and cleaners, can be corrosive, explosive, or toxic if mixed indiscriminately with regular household garbage. 

The Town of North Hempstead’s S.T.O.P. collection and motor oil recycling programs are available to all Village residents.  I urge all residents to take advantage of both programs.

Under the S.T.O.P. program, the Town will accept for disposal chemicals such as pesticides, aerosol cans, household cleaners and used motor oil. 
For more information call the Town Solid Waste Authority (802 West Shore Rd., Port Washington) at 869-6311 or go to the Town website at  

http://www.northhempstead.com/stopprogram

 The Nassau County Soil & Water Conservation District (NCSWD) and the NYS Department of Envionmental Conservation (NYSDEC)
have produced a new film entitled
"Stormwater Pollution and Green Infrastructure Solutions"

To learn more about keeping our environment clean, please visit www.nassauswcd.org.
Free outreach materials including a trifold brochure, coloring book and crossword puzzle
are also available to download on the NCSWD site (click the stormwater tab, then "Stormwater Film Education Packet")

As you walk around the Village you may notice storm drains cut into the curb and meant to remove stormwater quickly from streets and surrounding areas. 
These drains are meant only for rain water and snow melt (cumulatively stormwater) to move through and are not trash receptacles. 
Anything that is poured down or placed into these drains leads to our beautiful Manhasset Bay or into groundwater.
 
Do not place pet waste, leftover lawn fertilizer, used oil, food scraps, trash, or anything else into these storm drains. 
Pet waste can be disposed of in your trash; lawn fertilizer can be swept up and kept to be applied later.  Used oil can often be returned to stores that sell motor oil. 
You can also call the Town’s 311 number to inquire about hazardous material collections going on throughout the year. 
Certain food scraps can be composted and the rest can be thrown out in your regular garbage.
Some of our storm drains are marked with a stainless steel medallion (like the one pictured below) that says “no dumping, drains to bay” to serve as a reminder that only rain should go down the drain.