Home improvement projects require special care to prevent water quality problems in the Rouge River. Paint use, paint removal and driveway, walkway and patio installation and repair are some activities where household hazardous materials have the potential to negatively affect the river, aquatic organisms and surrounding wildlife. The following suggestions will help you decrease the amount of pollution coming from your neighborhood.

Painting
Paint Use and Clean Up
Paints and associated materials such as thinners, rags and brushes should never make their way to a stream, river or lake. All paints, solvents, and adhesive contain chemicals that are harmful to aquatic animals and other wildlife within our water system.

• Choose water-based paints over oil-based paints. Look for "latex" or "clean up with water" on the label (they are generally less toxic than oil-based paints).
• Buy only what you are going to use.
• Do not use paints over 15 years old ? they may contain toxic levels of lead.
• After getting as much water-based paint off brushes and out of paint trays as possible, wash off the excess paint in an indoor sink, not outdoors.
• Paint out oil-based paint brushes as much as possible and then use thinners and solvents. Dispose of excess paint and thinner through your local household hazardous waste disposal program (see section of household hazardous wastes).
• When they are thoroughly dry, empty paint cans, spent brushes, rags and drop cloths may be disposed of in the trash. Leave the lids off the paint cans so the refuse collector can see that they are empty.
• Dispose empty aerosol paint cans as household hazardous waste.

Paint Removal

• When pressure-washing old exterior house paint, prevent or minimize wash water from discharging into a storm drain.
• Chemical paint stripping residue, including saturated rags, is a hazardous waste and should be taken to a household hazardous waste collection site.
• Lead paint chips are a hazardous waste and should be swept up and taken to your local household hazardous waste collection site.

Reuse/Recycle

• Reuse paint thinner or cleaning solvents. Set aside in a closed jar to settle out paint particles, then pour off clear liquid for future use. Dispose of paint and thinner residue through your local household hazardous waste disposal program.
• Empty, dry paint cans and empty aerosols can also be recycled in some communities.
• Save unused paint for future pain jobs or find someone who can use it. Donate it to an organization, such as a theater group, that needs contributions.

Install and repair driveways, walkways and patios

• Set up and operate small mixers on heavy tarps or drop cloths.
• Never wash excess material from bricklaying or patio or driveway construction into a storm drain.
• Collect and reuse excess gravel and sand.
• Don't use your hose as a broom! Never hose down driveways, sidewalks, or streets into storm drains.
• Apply driveway sealant when no rain is forecast. Sweep first to prepare and carefully follow the directions.
• Try and minimize impervious surfaces and slope such surfaces toward vegetated areas. (See landscape section.)

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Please address all comments and suggestions about the contents of this Web page to rougeweb@co.wayne.mi.us.

The Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project is funded, in part, by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grants #XP995743-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -08 and C-264000-01.