Most of our rainwater travels through gutters, storm drains, channels, washes and eventually into the major source of our drinking water, Lake Mead. The largest source of stormwater pollution in Southern Nevada results from every day activities. The most common pollutants are:
- Trash (fast-food wrappers, cigarette butts, styrofoam cups, etc.)
- Toxins (used motor oil, antifreeze, fertilizer, pesticides, sewage overflow, pet droppings, etc.)
These pollutants are picked up as water (from rain, hoses, sprinklers, etc.) drains from streets, parking lots, and lawns to the storm drain system made up of over the 66,000 catch basins, pipes, and open channels throughout Las Vegas and Southern Nevada. Polluted urban runoff entering the storm drain system is conveyed straight to the Las Vegas Wash untreated.
Basically, anything dumped or dropped on the ground or in the gutter contributes to stormwater pollution.