Watershed Stewardship
A clean, safe environment is of primary importance for our health and economy. Waterways provide recreation, commercial opportunities and wildlife habitat plus add beauty to our landscape. Everyone benefits from clean water - and all of us have a role in getting and keeping our lakes, rivers, wetlands and ground waters clean.
The greatest threat to water quality nationwide begins with a storm and you. Rain washes over agriculture fields, suburban backyards and gardens picking up pesticides, fertilizers, pet waste and residential car washing residue. It streams across urban parking lots, roads and driveways spattered with oil and encrusted with the residue of salt and heavy metals. Along the way it collects carelessly disposed of trash, toxic chemicals, pathogenic microbes from farm animal and pet waste, as well as discharge from malfunctioning septic systems.
Eventually the rain carries this blend of pollutants into streams, creeks, rivers and ultimately the Great Lakes where it degrades water quality and threatens aquatic habitats.
We can all do our part to help keep the waters of the State clean by picking up and disposing of pet waste properly, washing vehicles at commercial car washes or on grassy areas, repairing oil leaks from vehicles, using environmentally safe fertilizers, having septic systems checked and placing trash in proper containers.
To report suspicious activity or if you see someone dumping anything but clean water into the storm sewers, streets, rivers or even on the ground please contact the DPW at 646.0186.
Clean water is important to us all!