Want to know more about how litter affects our waterways?  Here’s how.

ü        Collect my pet’s waste

Animal and pet waste is a significant contributor to the bacteria and pollutants that are found in our waters.  They deposit harmful bacteria into our drinking, swimming, fishing and recreational waters.  The Appomattox, much like any other of our waterways, contains high amounts of fecal bacteria as a result of animal waste.  Picking up after your pet is a simple and easy way to help decrease the amount of contaminants that end up in our waters.

Why should I be concerned with picking up my pet’s waste?  Here’s why.

 Related Links

• Clean Virginia Waterways' Water Quality Monitoring Program

ü        Properly dispose of my automobile's used oil, fluids and other hazardous wastes 

Vehicles and the fluids they emit contribute significantly to the pollutants that end up in our waterways.  Flowing water carries oils, antifreeze, and metals from the streets, parking lots and driveways where these fluids build up into the streams, rivers and lakes where you swim, fish, and boat.  Toxins found in the fluids can seriously degrade the health and stability of these waters.  According to EPA's Nationwide Urban Runoff Program (NURP), two of the three most toxic sources of runoff pollution are parking lots and other automobile storage areas. 

Some easy steps to take to prevent your vehicle’s fluids from getting into our local waters are:

• Keep your car tuned up to reduce oil use and drips
   

• Use ground covers or drip pans beneath your vehicle if you have leaks or are doing engine work, and clean up any spills immediately.
   

• Recycle used motor oil, and NEVER dispose of used oil or other fluids by dumping them into storm drains, ditches, or by simply pouring them onto an unused area of your property.
  
  Find an automobile fluid recycler in Colonial Heights
   

• Collect any unused fluids in non-corrosive containers with tight fitting lids and store above ground level in a covered area.
   

• Wash your car on an unpaved, flat surface to lessen the amount of chemicals that run into the storm drains.

ü        Alter my use of fertilizers and pesticides

Fertilizers and pesticides pose a great danger to the habitats of our waters and to the fish and wildlife that live in them.  While these chemicals and treatments help keep our lawns green and insect free, many of the same effects could be accomplished with smaller amounts of these substances, and in some cases, natural alternatives. Getting your soil tested, as opposed to simply estimating the right amounts of fertilizer, also helps, as it will allow you to apply only the necessary amounts without overloading your lawn with fertilizers that it won’t use and that will end up in our waterways.  Leaving your grass clippings on your lawn also helps, by leaving the fertilizers already absorbed by the clipped blades to continue fertilizing the lawn.

Want to learn more about how to build and maintain a more waterway-friendly lawn?  Click here 

ü        Think like a rain drop 

All of us have seen it rain, and have watched the runoff go where the rain carries it: downhill. Knowing this, an easy way to help decrease storm water runoff from your yard is to think like a rain drop, and take simple actions to change or slow the flow of water.  Down spouts, for example, can easily be turned away from paved surfaces to flow to grassy areas where the water will be slowed.  This water will also help water the lawn.  Rather than collecting leaves on slopes near ditches and waterways, you might try collecting them in an enclosed compost area.  This will help keep leaves and debris from entering our streams and rivers, but will also cut down on the cost we all spend for mulching, as the compost will make an excellent source of natural mulch in the spring.

Learn more about composting and natural mulching.