We all do things around the house every day that can affect our rivers and streams.

Remember, your rivers are closer than you think.

Things You Can Do At Home to Preserve Our Rivers...

Maintain your septic tank.
Septic leaks or overflows can be a danger to our rivers. Perform an annual inspection and call a licensed pumper to service your system at least once every three years. Regular maintenance can prevent sewage back-ups and costly repairs in the future.

Plant a tree or two!
Trees planted nearby a river provide crucial habitat for birds and shade for fish. Away from the river, tree roots prevent soil erosion and filter out pollutants carried by water run-off. A tree planting is a great hands-on project for the whole family.

Avoid using pesticides and fertilizers.
Most people are using too much fertilizer in their yards. When water runs off our gardens and lawns, pesticides and fertilizers are carried back into our rivers. The nutrients in these products stimulate the growth of harmful plants which choke our rivers.

Repair leaky faucets and toilets right away.
Leaky sinks and toilets can waste 50 gallons of water in one day, depleting our rivers. For a leaky faucet, look for a faulty o-ring or valve seat. Toilet leaks aren't always so obvious. Try pouring colored liquid into the tank. If after 15 minutes you see dye in the bowl, you may need to replace the flapper.

Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth and washing the dishes.
You can save 3-5 gallons a day. Try using a cup when brushing and shaving. And fill up the sink first when washing vegetables or doing a load of dishes. It's a small change that will make a big difference.

Run the washing machine and dishwasher only when they are fully loaded.
You can save between 300-800 gallons of water each month.

Dispose of household cleaners, paint and other chemicals safely.
Many cleaning products found in our homes and garages are too dangerous to be disposed of in the trash or down the drain. Read the label: anything marked "Poison" or "Danger" should be taken to your local hazardous waste center. Use water-based paints and dry off excess paint with a paper towel before rinsing your paintbrush.

Fix car leaks promptly.
Leaky cars leave drips or puddles of motor oil and other fluids on our streets and driveways. When it rains, these contaminants run down our streets, through the storm drains, and into our rivers. So clean stains on your driveway or street and fix car leaks right away. Preventing polluted run-off will help keep our rivers and drinking water safe.

Take care when changing your car's motor oil and dispose of the oil safely.
One quart of motor oil can pollute 250,000 gallons of river water, so use a large pan if you are changing motor oil yourself. Never pour leftover oil down a storm drain or into the trash - instead, drop it off at your local hazardous waste center.

Water your lawn and garden only in the morning or evening.
Water evaporates quickly during the middle of the day. Remember, a lawn only needs 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, and you can set out a can to measure for you. Watering less creates deeper, stronger roots and a healthier lawn. Or you could try letting the lawn go brown, as nature intended during summer months. Another option is to plant native plants or xeriscaping that require less water altogether.

Buy and use environmentally friendly products.
Choose safer, multi-purpose cleaners marked with only a "Caution" warning, rather than products with "Poison" and "Danger" on the label. Avoid chlorine, phosphate products and solvents like paint thinner.

Sweep off - instead of hosing -the driveway, patio or sidewalk.
Hosing for 15 minutes wastes 150 gallons of water. Water run-off from our driveways or sidewalks carries contaminants, such as dirt, motor oil, fertilizers and animal waste, into our rivers.

Install water-saving showerheads and high-performance, low-flush toilets.
An outdated showerhead wastes 20 extra gallons a day or 7,300 gallons a year - and that's just for one person! An average family of four can save 14,000-17,000 gallons of water a year by replacing pre-1993 toilets with new high-efficiency ones. High-efficiency toilets, washing machines and dishwashers not only save our rivers, they save us money.

Last updated on February 7, 2010 by Ogeechee Riverkeeper