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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.
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Don't litter:
Keep litter, pet droppings, leaves,
and other debris out of gutters, storm drains, and waterways.
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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.
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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.
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Keep
cars in good condition:
Help keep cars in good running condition to reduce leaks and air pollution.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Last Updated: June 10, 2008