Residents reminded to keep leaves out of streets, sewer systems

Posted on October 31, 2015
Leaves that are raked into the street can end up in local water systems, posing a serious threat to plants and wildlife. (Photo courtesy Flickr/KennyLouie)
Leaves that are raked into the street can end up in local water systems, posing a serious threat to plants and wildlife. (Photo courtesy Flickr/KennyLouie)

By Andy Dahn

BLOOMINGTON – Fall is in full swing and that means leaves have covered the yards of Bloomington and Normal residents.

Executive Director of the Ecology Action Center Michael Brown said plants and wildlife pay the price when leaves end up in local storm sewer systems.

“This is a source of nutrients that gets into the water,” Brown said. “The high amount of materials in there then creates problems with lack of oxygen for wildlife as all of the microbes in the water must work extra hard to break down the excessive amounts of nutrients.”

Brown said those leaves can eventually end up in local creeks, streams and lakes.

“The important thing is to keep them out of the street,” said Brown. “They cause problems with both clogging the water sewer systems and they also act as a pollutant.”

Brown added that composting leaves or piling them neatly next to curbs for collection are ways residents can prevent leaves from getting into sewer systems. More information can be found by contacting the Ecology Action Center at (309)-454-3169, or online at ecologyactioncenter.org.

Andy Dahn can be reached at [email protected].

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