Celebrate Earth Day with Smyrna-Vinings Patch

As Earth Day (April 22) approaches, what better way to mark the occasion than to take action to safeguard our vital water resources?

The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District invites everyone in the region to reduce water pollution on Earth Day and every day.

When it rains it pollutes. It all starts in your neighborhood. Every time it rains water runs off the land as stormwater. As it flows off of rooftops, lawns, down driveways and streets, stormwater picks up pollutants and debris such as dirt, motor oil, fertilizer, litter and pet waste. All of these pollutants are carried by stormwater into storm drains and drainage ditches, which then flows untreated into our rivers, lakes and streams.  

We can all be part of the solution. Simple actions can go a long way!  

• Keep soapy water, chemicals, motor oil, yard wastes and trash out of storm drains and drainage ditches.  
• Pick up your pet’s waste.
• Apply only the amount of fertilizer that the turf or plant requires and avoid doing so if heavy rain is predicted.
• Take household hazardous materials like left over house paint, batteries and motor oil to a proper disposal center. Go to www.earth911.com  to find a location in your community.
• Participate in a local stream cleanup! Go to http://www.riversalive.com/ra_cleanups.asp to find cleanup events happening throughout Georgia.

Check out www.cleanwatercampaign.com for more tips and a library of resources on what you can do to reduce stormwater pollution. 

-Courtesy of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District.

What do you do to help save the planet? Share your Earth Day tips and photos with Smyrna-Vinings Patch and we'll include them in our Earth Day Gallery. Upload photos to and caption them 'Earth Day.' Post your tips in the comments below.