We all live in an area of land that will drain rain and snowmelt to a body of water. This land is our watershed. Our actions on the land directly impact the quality of the rivers, streams and the lake.
Rainwater and snow melt from roofs, lawns, driveways, streets, roadside ditches and parking lots drains to small creeks that flow into streams before eventually entering Lake Erie.
On its way, stormwater picks up the pollutants that we may leave behind such as oils and antifreeze that drips from our cars, leaves and sediment from our lawns, litter, salt we use on our sidewalks, and pet waste.
- Dispose of household hazardous and motor oil properly. Never dump in a storm drain.
- Pick up pet wastes even when it’s under the snow.
- Choose environmentally friendly household products.
- Use salt sparingly this winter and sweep up the excess. One coffee mug of salt will melt 250 sf of sidewalk.
- Clear gutters and downspouts of debris.
- Do regular maintenance on your vehicles to prevent leaks/drips.
Lets keep pollutants out of our waterways and keep our great lake and drinking water supplies healthy!