Our Water. Our Future. Ours to Protect. Protecting Our Water
Many people think that most water pollution comes from
industries that dump chemicals into the water. The truth is our
water can be harmed by things that we do everyday. When it
rains, water washes over lawns, sidewalks, and streets. Besides
litter, this water picks up chemicals found in lawn fertilizers,
bacteria found in pet waste, and oil from cars. This polluted
water then enters roadside ditches and the storm drains found in
our streets. Large pipes under the ground connect the storm
drains to the closest lake or stream — even the ones you don’t
see everyday! We we all live on a lake or stream. It’s true --
we might not be able to see it from our window, but it’s there.
It might be a small stream or ditch or even the storm drain in
the street. All of these lead to a river or lake. So it’s
important to remember that what we do at home affects our rivers
and lakes! Here are some simple steps you can take to help keep
our water clean. Give them a