Protecting Water Quality

For Castle Rock Water, managing water quality goes beyond what comes out of customers' faucets. It's also ensuring our waterways stay clean. Preventing pollution before it enters the watershed is important for the ecology of the watershed. Also, the local creeks are a primary drinking water source. Preventing pollution reduces the need for more aggressive and costly water treatment options.

Stormwater runoff is the rain or melting snow that runs across a yard or street and flows into a nearby stormwater drain. Though sometimes called a storm sewer, these drainage-ways do not go through the wastewater treatment system. Stormwater flows, untreated, to local creeks, rivers and lakes and eventually becomes our tap water. In Castle Rock, pollution to our waterways comes primarily from people. So, it is our responsibility to keep our watershed clean.

Preventing watershed pollution

Stormwater Hotline

Report any illegal or accidental dumping, to the Stormwater Hotline at 720-733-2235, as soon as possible.

Spring Up the Creek trash pickup event

Spring Up the Creek is held every May, and provides an opportunity for community groups and residents to come together to keep Castle Rock beautiful. More than 200 volunteers gather to pick up trash along trails following the creeks.

Learn more about Spring Up the Creek.

Pick up pet waste

Dog waste left on trails is a primary contributor to pollution in watersheds. Dog waste is not a fertilizer and contains bacteria that contaminates our land and our water. Please pick up pet waste on trails and in your yard and dispose of it in the trash.

Dispose of household chemicals properly

Contact Douglas County to schedule a time to get rid of pesticides, herbicides, automobile fluids, large batteries, fluorescent lights and other chemicals.

Use fertilizers sparingly

If over-applied, rain carries away the excess fertilizer to the nearest waterway, causing excess algae growth that uses up vital oxygen for fish. Instead, mulch grass and yard clippings and amend the soil with organic compost.

Keep yard materials clear of stormdrains

Don't wash lawn and yard clippings into the street and stormdrains. Do not (temporarily) store landscape materials in the street or sidewalk; rock, mulch and soil should be delivered and placed on your driveway.

Clean up automotive spills

Clean up automotive and chemical spills using dry cleanup methods, such as absorbing with kitty litter and disposing of it in the trash. One drop of oil can pollute one million drops of water.

Sweep instead of hose

Sweep and dispose of waste in a trash can instead of using a water hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.

Dispose of leftover paint

Unused or leftover latex paint can be dropped off at some area paint retailers for reuse. Dried out water-based latex paint can be safely and legally disposed of in regular household garbage. Mixing the paint with kitty litter, concrete-mix, or soil will help speed the drying process. Empty or dried-out cans of paint can be discarded in the trash if the lids are removed. Find drop off locations at the PaintCare website.

Additional actions to reduce water contamination

Place FOGs in the trash

Pour Fats, Oils and Grease into a can or jar and dispose of in the trash instead of pouring down the drain. Scrape pots, pans and dishes of food scraps into the trash. These actions can help prevent clogged and smelly pipes, as well as reduce costly treatment at the wastewater treatment plant.

Don't flush 'flushable' wipes

Place flushable wipes and toilettes in the trash. Despite being labeled as 'flushable' these items do not properly disintegrate and can easily cause sewer backups. Don't use your toilet as a trashcan. There are only three things that should go in the toilet and the third is toilet paper.

Properly dispose of prescription drugs

Drop off unused or expired prescription drugs during regular business hours in the lobby of the Castle Rock Police Department, 100 Perry St. Check if your local pharmacy will take them too.