Clean water starts at home

Is this your neighbor? Or could it be you?

Runoff from your yard carries pollutants to the nearest stream or river A major source of water pollution is runoff from your yard from rain and watering. Before our community was developed, rainfall soaked slowly into the ground or flowed to wetlands, streams and rivers. As buildings and pavement have replaced plants and topsoil, water runs off instead of soaking into the soil.

Runoff goes to the storm drains and ditches. It picks up anything that floats or dissolves - litter, oil, gas, soap, fertilizer, weed killer, etc. Then it flows untreated to the Tualatin River. Our community has spent many millions of dollars to clean up the Tualatin River, and public agencies are working hard to protect the watershed. Our wastewater is treated to the nation’s highest standards.

So why is water quality still a problem? Because what we do in our homes and yards can pollute the water. Join us in making sure every drop of water is clean water. Click on the links at the bottom to learn what you can do to help.

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Free poster!

Get your free Gardening with Native Plants poster at teraglie@cleanwaterservices.org or by calling (503) 681-4463. Post this colorful fold-out poster containing 50 northwest natives with their growing conditions. You’ll also get a list of native plant nurseries, educational workshops, annual native plant sales and a reference guide.