It's Easy To Keep Water Clean!

Our water will stay nice and clean for all of the people, animals, and plants that live in our watershed, if we follow a few simple steps. Check out the list below to make sure you are being a good water steward! Always remember, most people that cause pollution are not trying to be bad guys. Often, these people are just not aware that what they are doing can hurt our environment. Share what you know with others! Be sure to share these simple tips with your family and friends, so that they can help too.

• Don't litter: Keep litter, pet droppings, leaves, and other debris out of gutters, storm drains, and waterways.

• Clean up spills: Clean up spilled brake fluid, oil, antifreeze, and grease. Do not hose them off driveways into the streets. Sweep driveways instead of washing them down with soaps and solvents.

• Wash your car on the lawn: Did you know that your grass loves a bubble bath as much as you do? You can wash your car on the lawn using non-toxic soap without causing harm to the grass. Or if you do not have grass, be sure to take your car to the car wash. The bubbles at the car wash go down the sewer, so that they will not hurt the environment.

• Keep cars in good condition: Help keep cars in good running condition to reduce leaks and air pollution.

• Trash into cash: Dispose of trash in its place. Remember to "turn your trash into cash" by RECYCLING, REUSING, and REDUCING your leftovers. Call (877) 713-2784 for North San Diego County’s Recycling Hotline. The recycling hotline for San Diego County incorporated cities is (800) 237-2583 and for the City of San Diego is (858) 467-0903.

• Use non-toxic household products: Read the labels and learn which items are hazardous. Words like: warning, caution, beware, and danger are good indicators that the product is hazardous to people, animals, or the environment. Be sure to dispose of these products at a collection event. Call (877) 713-2784 to find out where in North San Diego County.

• Dispose of paint properly: Clean water based paints in the sink, not the driveway, gutter, or waterway. Water based paint that enters the sewer will get cleaned up at a water treatment facility. But if your house is connected to a septic system, that's a different story. If this is your case, take your leftover paint to a collection event.

• Do you off-road?: If you ride or drive off-road vehicles, like motor bikes or ATVs, avoid driving over eroding hillsides and the plants that help keep soil in its place.

• Take care of plants: Take good care of groundcover, trees, and shrubs. Provide them with enough water to keep them healthy. These plants help to protect the soil and slopes from eroding.

• Downspouts and rain gutters: Point the downspouts and rain gutters on your house onto a grassy area. That way, the rain runoff will help to water your bushes and will be filtered by the lawn.

• DO NOT overdose the environment! Encourage your mom and dad to follow the directions when using pesticides (bug poison) and fertilizers (plant food). When using these products, MORE is NOT BETTER!

• Report illegal dumping in the waterway: If you should see someone that you do not know, pouring or leaving things in the waterway, ask your parents to call the Sheriff or have them call (888) 846-0800. This number belongs to the County of San Diego’s Storm Water Hotline. They know how to help.

• Make sure your farm or landscaping doesn't cause pollution: By using correct irrigation scheduling, fertilizer methods, and compost and mulch, you can prevent agricultural pollutants from entering the watershed.

• Share your watershed awareness today! Tell your family and friends about my website AND how they too, can help KEEP OUR WATERSHED CLEAN!!!

If you think that someone is illegally dumping items down a stormdrain, please contact the County of San Diego’s Stormwater Management Program at (888) 846-0800 or Riverside Flood Control’s Stormwater/Clean Water Protection Program at (800) 506-2555.