August is Water Quality month!

The Clean Water Act was passed in 1972 but most people are unaware of the little ways they can pollute their water. Water Quality Month reminds us to take a long, hard look at what your household and community are doing to protect sources of fresh water.

• Half of the United States population lives within 50 miles of a coast
• Each year 1.2 trillion gallons of untreated sewage, storm water, and industrial waste are dumped into U.S. waters
• Cruise ships produce over 200,000 gallons of sewage which is mostly released in the ocean.

2. Use the Car Wash

Washing your car at home can flush chemicals down the storm drains that flow into our lakes and streams. Professional car washes are required to drain into sewer systems so that wastewater plants can treat the water before it is re-used.

3. Use a Trash Can, NOT the Drain

Avoid putting products like motor oil, prescription medications, antibacterial household cleaners, paints, bug/pest repellants, and detergents. We don’t want products like this down the drain and into our waterways because they have toxic chemicals in them.

4. Don’t Use Fertilizer/Pesticides

Fertilizer and pesticides can run off the soil and contaminate the waterways that feed our drinking water supplies. Exposure to these chemicals can cause harm to humans and wildlife alike.