Stormwater Utility

Join the Neighborhood Leaf Watch

Public Awareness

The City of Orlando’s Streets and Stormwater Services Assistant Division Manager, Kevin McCann, says that an unusually high accumulation of fallen leaves this year has put a burden on the City’s leaf removal systems and threatens the City’s lakes with excessive nutrient loading.

Leaves, acorns, grass clippings and other debris contain high concentrations of the nutrients phosphorus and nitrogen, which are the most common cause of lake pollution in urban lakes.  Although some stormdrain outfalls have pollution control devices installed that filter out some of this pollution, most curbside stormwater drains carry runoff directly to a lake. 

The most cost-effective way to prevent stormwater pollution from entering our lakes is to control it at its source.  To do this, residents and lawn maintenance companies need to be made aware of the impact that their action can have on a lake’s ecosystem.  In an effort to reduce the detrimental effects that stormwater runoff has on our lakes, the City of Orlando has enacted codes prohibiting the discharge of debris into any street.

For the sake of our lakes, bag your leaves, grass clippings and other small pieces of yard waste, and dispose of them on your designated yard-waste pickup day. Even better, start a compost pile or invest in a mulching blade for your mower. Do not mow, sweep, or blow leaves and other yard waste into the street.  Keep curbside drains and gutters free of debris. If you have a lawn service, please be sure they comply as well.

Remember "Only rain down the drain."  Don’t let pollution happen. Call the Stormwater Hotline at 407-246-2370 if you wish to report any suspected illicit discharge or dumping into a City lake or storm drain. 

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