We all live in a river basin! 
A river basin is an area of land that drains into a common stream or waterway. Cary lies within two river basins, the Neuse and Cape Fear River basins. What we do in our river basins can affect the quality of our water. Learn about the river basin you live in and take action to help prevent stormwater pollution and protect our water quality.

Report it!
Call (919) 469-4030 or use our online form to report suspicious substances in a storm drain or waterway, or if you witness someone or a business dumping material into a storm drain or waterway. Other than rain and allowable substances listed in the Town’s stormwater permit, no other substances should go down the drain.

Allowable Stormwater Discharges
Residential and charity car-washing	Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges	Air conditioning condensate
Street wash water	Flows from firefighting activities	Waterline and fire hydrant flushing
Footing drains	Foundation drains	Water from crawl space pumps
Rising groundwaters	Landscape irrigation

Volunteer

• Pick up litter in our community through the Spruce Program. 
• Beautify an area in our community through the Adopt a Spot Program.
• Join the Block Leader Program and become a resource for neighbors on Town environmental programs and initiatives.
• Label storm drains in your area.

Landscape using best-management practices

• Install a rain garden or wet-loving plants and trees in poorly drained areas.
• Install a rainwater harvesting system.
• Limit fertilizer to what your yard actually needs; have your soil tested. Pick up a soil test kit at the Stevens Nature Center.
• If you fertilize, hold off before a rainstorm and always sweep excess fertilizer back on the lawn.
• Blow grass clippings back onto the lawn or compost them. Take tips from The Sodfather.
• Set sprinklers to water the landscape only, not hardscapes such as driveways, sidewalks and streets.
• Prevent streambank and backyard erosion.

Keep storm drains clean and clear

• Never dump anything down a storm drain; only rain and allowable discharges (listed above) should go down the drain.
• Dispose of household hazardous waste such as paint or motor oil by taking it to an approved facility.
• Recycle used fats, cooking oil and greaseusing our curbside collection program.

Mind your pet

• Pick up pet waste and throw it in the trash; Sec. 6-64 Cary Code of Ordinances 

Visit

• Stop by Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, an excellent resource for more information on rain barrels, water gardens and stream buffers. 
• Stroll through the rain garden demonstration at White Oak Park.

Maintain your septic tank

• Only flush items that will decompose naturally.
• Never pour grease down the drain.
• Conserve water use.
• Pump the tank out regularly by a licensed contractor.

See North Carolina State University’s Septic System Owners Guide for more information. 

Practice good business
Work in one of these businesses? Take these steps to help prevent stormwater pollution.

• Carpet Cleaning
• Commercial Property
• Food Service
• Landscaping
• Multi-Family Complexes
• Painting 
• Vehicle Repair 

Preserving the quality of our streams and waterways is a regional effort. The Town of Cary is a founding partner of the Clean Water Education Partnership (CWEP), which is administered by the Triangle J Council of Governments. Comprised of local governments within the Neuse River basin, CWEP provides additional outreach and education for adults and children on stormwater quality through mass media and a comprehensive website. 

Contact
Water Resources
(919) 469-4030