We know it’s still technically winter, but spring is approaching quick and with spring comes showers (and also snowmelt!) and that’s what we want to focus on today so you can help protect our water and keep it safe for all of North Aurora!
Water pollution prevention and control measures are critical to improving our water quality and reducing the need for costly wastewater and drinking water treatment. Water pollution can come from storm water runoff, which occurs when precipitation from rain or snowmelt flows driveways, sidewalks and streets rather than soaking into the ground. The runoff can pick up debris and pollutants and flow into the storm sewer system and then into our rivers, ponds, and wetlands. When water becomes polluted, the effects can be far reaching including creating unsafe drinking water.
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) is a program administered by the agency to improve water quality and we’re here to share some tips that you can use to help keep our water clean! Check out the full brochure on our website here (https://northaurora.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BeaCleanWaterChampion.pdf) but check out some highlights below!
🏡Know Where You Live
Do you know what watershed you live in? Do you know who lives upstream and downstream of you? Visit “Surf Your Watershed” to find your “watershed address” and what impact your location could have! http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/locate/
💧 Hold that Water
Runoff from roofs and driveways can end up running too fast and contribute to local flooding. How can you help prevent that? Install rain barrels at your downspouts, rain gardens to filter and redirect runoff into lawns or gardens!
🌳Grow Deep Roots
Native plants help hold soil in place with deep roots and act as a filter, which reduces speed of water across your yard and allows sediments and pollutants to settle before they reach our streams and rivers.
💚 Go Easy on the Green
Lush, green grass looks wonderful but many fertilizers and pesticides used to keep it that way can wreak havoc on streams and rivers. Try using native plant gardens or alternative grass species that don’t require so many chemicals to grow well!
♻ Properly Dispose of Hazardous Wastes
Bring household hazardous wastes (like oil-based paints, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) to proper disposal sites. Learn more at https://www.kanecountyil.gov/recycling
