What Can I Do?
MSD alone cannot keep the region’s waterways clean. We need the support, resources and actions of concerned citizens, businesses, and municipalities to improve local water quality. Since our waterways and sewers are shared public resources, there are many steps that you can take to help maintain both.
Going Green
Prior to urban development, rain provided nourishment to a natural landscape of forests and wetlands. With development, we replaced these forests and wetlands with buildings and pavement, sending stormwater into sewer pipes, ditches, culverts, and outfalls. This stormwater runoff carries pollutants into our local streams and rivers, damaging local ecosystems, water quality, and threatening our public health and quality of life.
This is where “going green” can help. Green infrastructure, as it relates to MSD initiatives — “rainscaping” is cost-effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly because it captures and reuses stormwater to maintain or restore natural hydrologies.
Examples of rainscaping include:
- Rain gardens
- Porous pavements
- Green roofs
- Infiltration planters
- Trees and tree boxes
- Rainwater harvesting (rain barrels)
Missouri Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal (P2D2)
P2D2 is a non-profit organization providing an environmentally safe alternative to disposing of medications in the landfill or sewer system. NEVER FLUSH MEDICATIONS DOWN THE TOILET! For a list of locations for proper disposal and what items are accepted, visit the link below.
Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
Residents of St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and Jefferson County can schedule appointments to drop-off residential household hazardous waste.
STL Milkweeds for Monarchs: The St. Louis Butterfly Project
As a sustainability initiative of the City of St. Louis, the STL Milkweeds for Monarchs initiative was developed to help connect people and urban nature. The goals are to 1) increase monarch butterfly habitat and 2) help people experience the splendor of monarchs in neighborhood parks and spaces. For updated information and to receive recognition for creating a monarch garden, visit the link below.