If you change your vehicle’s oil, then transfer the used oil to a sealed container and consult your local garage about options for safe disposal.

 If you pour used motor oil on the ground, into a storm drain or throw it in your trash can (even in a sealed container), you are improperly disposing of your used motor oil. According to the U.S. EPA, more than 40 percent of our nation’s oil pollution comes from the improper disposal of used motor oil.   Used motor oil is highly toxic to the environment, and it is of the utmost importance that it is disposed of in a safe fashion.

 One gallon of motor oil can:

• Create an oil slick on surface water up to eight acres in size
• Contaminate one million gallons of freshwater (one year’s supply of water for 50 people)
• Render a  four acre area of soil unusable for planting for decades

 For more information on how vehicles impact water quality, stop by the MSD booth at the St. Louis Auto Show. The show is January 26-29, and our booth is located in the Eco City section.

 As part of our outreach efforts, MSD will be at the St. Louis Auto Show, which runs January 26-29 at the America’s Center/Edward Jones Dome in downtown St. Louis.

 We will have a booth in the Eco City section of the show. Stop by to find out how cars contribute to stormwater pollution, and what you can do to help reduce pollution.

 Hope to see you there.

 For years, we used green paint to mark the inlet covers after cleaning. Eventually, we ended up with a green dot on every inlet cover in the combined sewer area and on many inlet covers in the separate sewer area. These dots range in color from bright green to faded green. Tracking inlet cleaning became difficult because of the various shades of green.

 So, in 2009, we changed colors. We used a gold dot that year to show the inlet had been cleaned. We simply placed a dot of gold paint next to the green dot, creating a cleaning history on the inlet cover. This year, we used blue paint.   

 For 2012, we will use silver paint. You can now look at the inlet cover and know when the inlet was cleaned.

  Here is the inlet cleaning color history:

•  2008 and prior – green
•  2009 – gold
•  2010 – purple
•  2011 – blue
•  2012 – silver

 One thing you shouldn’t do is pour fats, oils and grease down the drain. Once the grease is poured down the drain, it then sticks to the sides of sewer pipes, both on your property and in the public sewer system. Over time, the grease will build up and block the pipes.

 Grease accumulation in the public sewer system can causes blockages in the sewer pipes, which then keeps the pipes from functioning properly. Blocked sewer pipes can cause sewer backups into homes and/or streets, costly cleaning and maintenance, and water pollution.

 MSD estimates that about 15 percent of blockages in its public sewer system are caused by fats, oils and grease.

 Here are some tips to keep fats, oils and grease out of the public sewer system:

•  Never pour grease down sink drains or into toilets.
• Scrape food scraps and grease from plates, pots and utensils into the trash.
• Pour fats, oils and grease into an empty jar or coffee can. Allow the grease to cool and solidify. Throw the container in the trash.

 Two seats will become vacant in March 2012 when the terms of Dr. Robert Berry, a St. Louis County trustee, and David Visintainer, a St. Louis City trustee, expire.

 Those interested in serving as a member of the MSD Board of Trustees can apply to St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay or St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley by February 17, 2012. Each official appoints the trustees in his jurisdiction.

 Applications can be sent to Mayor Slay at 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103, or to County Executive Dooley at 41 South Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105.

 Board trustees serve four year terms and must be registered voters. They must also reside in their jurisdiction for three years, and they must continue to live in their jurisdiction during their term in office.

 For information on MSD’s Board of Trustees, click here.

 We recommend unhooking the rain barrel from the downspout and storing it in a garage or shed. However, if you don’t have the storage space, you can leave the rain barrel outdoors during the winter if you prepare it for the elements.

 Drain your rain barrel, making sure it’s completely empty so it doesn’t freeze or crack. Then, remove the spigots, the screen and the hose and store the items in place where you’ll easily find them in the spring. You may also want to rinse out the rain barrel in order to remove sediment.

 If you are storing the rain barrel outside, turn it upside down to keep rain, ice and snow out of it. The rain barrel may stay in its location, but you might want to secure it to keep it from blowing away.

 After you’ve prepped the rain barrel for winter storage, you may want to consider redirecting the downspout away your home’s foundation in order to keep water from melted snow and ice away. Attach another piece of downspout if necessary.

 MSD will offer rain barrels for sale to customers in spring 2012. Keep an eye on the MSD website for sale details.

 Why isn’t pouring grease down the drain a good idea? After the grease is poured down the drain, it will stick to the sides of sewer pipes, both on your property and in the public sewer system. Over time, the grease will build up and block the pipes, causing the public sewer system to stop working properly.

MSD estimates that about 15 percent of blockages in its public sewer system are caused by fats, oils and grease.

 Here are some easy ways to keep fats, oils and grease out of the public sewer system:

•  Refrain from pouring grease down sink drains.
• Scrape all excess food and grease from plates and other utensils into the trash.
• Collect grease in a container. Cool it in the fridge and dispose of in the trash

 Almost 600 volunteers turned out at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge area and Creve Coeur Lake on March 26 to pick up refuse near waterways and haul it away to an actual trash facility.  Since the inaugural Confluence Trash Bash in 2009, over 1500 volunteers from throughout the St. Louis area have participated.

 River clean-ups not only improve wildlife habitats, but also reconnect people to America’s Great Rivers. These clean-ups are an integral part of the protection of water quality. MSD is proud to partner with Confluence Greenway on the Confluence Trash Bash cleanup event. 

 Dona Anderson of MSD’s Division of Environmental Compliance will accept the award on MSD’s behalf due to her dedicated efforts to making this event a success. Award recipients will be honored at a Celebration of Justice Reception on Monday, November 21.

 The Rate Commission recommended a four year rate schedule for FY 2013-2016 that raises rates about 53 percent. MSD staff proposed a 64 percent increase over that same time period.

 Last May, MSD staff presented a proposal to the Rate Commission recommending customer wastewater rate increases to help fund more than $1 billion in needed wastewater system improvements between Fiscal Years 2013 and 2016.

 Over the coming months, the Board will determine if the rate report is compliant with MSD’s charter. If so, the Board will then implement a rate change.  

 The Rate Commission, which consists of 15 member organizations representing a broad cross section of MSD customers and the community, provides public input into how MSD sets its rates. The Rate Commission process included multiple public hearings where MSD customers provided feedback on the rate proposal.

 View the Rate Commission report here.

 The purpose of the special session is to introduce an ordinance calling for a bond election to be held on February 7, 2012 on the proposition whether to issue $945,000,000.00 in sewer revenue bonds.

 Thursday’s special board meeting is open to the public.