While this operating guide is designed mainly for downtown business owners and employees, we realize that nearly 5,000 people live downtown and millions more visit the River Walk each year. These are the pollution prevention messages the RWWA will be disseminating to those groups. Please help us spread the word through your own communications channels.

When visiting the River Walk, please don’t feed the wildlife. Ducks, squirrels and pigeons are cute animals, but feeding them brings more wildlife to the River Walk than the habitat would support. More animals means more animal waste going into the river.

Please pick up after your pets. Pet waste washes into the river when it rains, and that increases the bacteria level in the water.

Please don’t hose down sidewalks or patios toward a driveway, road, or storm drain. Use a broom and dustpan to sweep up spills. Use an absorbent or wet/dry vac to clean up wet spills.

Clean your outdoor patio or picnic tables as you would indoor dining tables, capturing and appropriately disposing of table waste.

Be sure trash bags or other outdoors trash containers are not leaking. Trash is a food source for animals.

Please don’t dump anything in the storm drain system. The storm drains are connected directly to our creeks and rivers—not to sanitary sewer systems. Storm drains are designed to reduce flooding and not for getting rid of waste.

Please call San Antonio Water System (704-SAWS) or the City of San Antonio (311) if you see a sewer overflowing from a manhole cover.

Call the City of San Antonio’s 311 if you spot trash piles in or near the streets or any type of illegal dumping.

Bus outdoor patio or picnic tables as you would indoor dining tables. Be sure to capture and appropriately dispose of table waste.

Keep food debris off the ground. This will help prevent birds and other wildlife from gathering.

Avoid placing liquids, fats, oils, and greases in garbage bags. This will help prevent trash bag leaks. Use sealed containers for fats, oils, and greases. Dispose of drink cup debris in sink before tossing disposable drink cups in garbage bags.

Always keep the lid closed on outdoor trash carts and bins. Trash can be a food source for wildlife. So, please keep trash secure.

Never spray off kitchen equipment or trash cans on any paved surface within the River Walk Watershed. Dirty rinse water can flow into storm drains and then into the river.

Encourage employees and patrons not to feed the wildlife while within the River Walk Watershed. Tossing food to wildlife is unhealthy for the animals and the river.

Sweep, vacuum, mop or use absorbents to contain and clean wet spills rather than using a water hose.

Use a broom and dustpan to sweep up debris before washing when washing is required.

Regularly inspect trash carts and bins for damage and leaks, and immediately report them to your waste service provider.

When washing is unavoidable, inspect the area and only spray wash where necessary.

When high-powered water spray is not adequate, use only biodegradable cleaning agents.

Use a damming device or wet vacuum to prevent rinse water from entering the river or a storm drain during and after washing.

Dispose of vacuumed rinse water in a sanitary sewer, not in storm drains or the river.

Avoid disposing of fats, oils, and greases in the sink.

If your kitchen’s volume yields more fats, oils, and greases than your equipment can handle between permitted cleanings, schedule and perform interim equipment cleanings.

Wash fleet vehicles at a permitted car wash or on a surface that drains to the sanitary sewer system, not on a driveway or road.

Conduct annual training with employees on the best management practices for preventing stormwater and watershed pollution. Also encourage employees to suggest other pollution prevention practices that will help keep our watersheds clean.

Sweep, vacuum, mop or use absorbents to contain and clean wet spills rather than using a water hose.

Use a broom and dustpan to sweep up debris before washing when washing is required.

Regularly inspect trash carts and bins for damage and leaks, and immediately report them to your waste service provider.

When washing is unavoidable, inspect the area and only spray wash where necessary.

When high-powered water spray is not adequate, use only biodegradable cleaning agents.

Use a damming device or wet vacuum to prevent rinse water from entering the river or a storm drain during and after washing.

Dispose of vacuumed rinse water in a sanitary sewer, not in storm drains or the river.

Avoid disposing of fats, oils, and greases in the sink.

If your kitchen’s volume yields more fats, oils, and greases than your equipment can handle between permitted cleanings, schedule and perform interim equipment cleanings.

Wash fleet vehicles at a permitted car wash or on a surface that drains to the sanitary sewer system, not on a driveway or road.

Conduct annual training with employees on the best management practices for preventing stormwater and watershed pollution. Also encourage employees to suggest other pollution prevention practices that will help keep our watersheds clean.

Use a broom and dustpan to sweep up sidewalk debris. Do not clean sidewalks and patios with a hose. Dirty rinse water can flow into storm drains and then into the river.

When sidewalk washing is unavoidable, inspect the area and only spray-wash where necessary. Use a damming device or wet vacuum to prevent rinse water from entering the river or a storm drain during and after washing. Dispose of vacuumed rinse water in a sanitary sewer, not in storm drains or the river.

When high-powered water spray is not adequate, use only biodegradable cleaning agents.

Regularly inspect trash carts and bins for leaks. Immediately report leaks to your waste service provider.

Keep outdoor trash carts and bin lids closed. Trash is a food source for wildlife. So, please keep trash secure.

Train employees annually on preventing stormwater and watershed pollution. Also encourage employees to suggest other pollution prevention practices that will help keep our watersheds clean.

Encourage employees and patrons not to feed the wildlife while within the River Walk Watershed. Tossing food to wildlife is unhealthy for the animals and the river.

Check vehicles routinely to ensure tailgate seals do not leak. Leaking liquids and other trash will wash into the storm drains and eventually into our creeks and rivers.

Ensure all trucks carry well-stocked cleanup kits to immediately address spills. This will help reduce the chance of pollutants being washed into the creeks and rivers when it rains.

Sweep, vacuum, mop or use absorbents to contain and clean up wet spills rather than using a water hose.

Wash fleet vehicles where soap and dirty water do not drain into storm drains. Wash vehicles at a permitted car wash or on a surface that drains to the sanitary sewer system, not on a driveway or road that drains to storm drain

Encourage route drivers to keep an eye out for any situation or activity that might pollute the San Antonio River Watershed. Report pollution problems either to the City of San Antonio at 311 or to company supervisors.

Work with customers in keeping trash bags and trash cans sealed. Politely remind customers to separate wet from dry trash and keep bags tightly closed.

Train employees annually on preventing stormwater and watershed pollution. Also encourage employees to suggest other pollution prevention practices that will help keep our watersheds clean.

Train new employees on what a watershed is, how a stormwater system works, and how they can help prevent pollution.