Every person who lives and works in Athens-Clarke County can do their part to ensure that the water we all depend on is safe for years to come.
It doesn’t matter if you live in a one-bedroom apartment or a ten-room mansion, if you own a small hardware store or a business that sits on five acres, all of us can play a part by taking a few easy steps.
Individuals:
- Conserve water. Do not over-water your lawns and gardens. Water early in the day or late in the evening (between 6 pm and 10 am).
- Pick up after pets and properly dispose of the waste in the toilet.
- Keep pets away from waterside areas.
- Compost grass clippings and leaves. Do not allow them to be washed
away into roadways or intentionally place them into storm drains or bodies of water. - Take your car to a commercial car wash to conserve water and to prevent detergents and toxins from flowing into storm drains on bodies of water.
- If you must wash your car at home, do so on you lawn or some other pervious surface instead of in the driveway or street.
- Don’t overuse pesticides. Whenever possible use natural alternatives.
- Service your car regularly to avoid oil, antifreeze, and other chemical leaks.
- Maintain your septic system to avoid the pollution of groundwater, seepage, and runoff.
- Report a discharge to the proper authorities.
Businesses
- Use dry methods for the clean-up of spills, such as cat litter or dry sweep compound. Do not hose spills, as the water will flow into storm drains.
- Recycle grease and oil. Do not pour them into sinks or onto parking
lots or streets. - Store materials in a safe place. Keep all toxic materials in their original containers.
- Make sure contaminated wash water and chemical discharges are disposed of properly. Do not dump wash water into storm drains.
- Keep your dumpsters clean and the lids closed, and make sure they are not leaking.
- Report a discharge to the proper authorities.
Land Developers
- Identify and conserve environmentally sensitive areas on your site and design your site around these areas.
- Use low impact site design principles. For “Better Site Design” development tools and tips visit the Center for Watershed Protection and the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual.
- Implement and maintain aggressive erosion control measures to
prevent sediment runoff. - Locate your site away from any down sloping street or driveway, and any stream, lake, or drainage way.
- Maintain construction entrances, and clean up sediments daily by sweeping or scraping up soils tracked onto roadways.
- Prevent root damage of trees and shrubbery by placing barriers around plant life and limiting construction within those barriers.
- Re-vegetate through seeding and mulching, as vegetation is most effective in erosion control.
- Report a discharge to the proper authorities.
