LAMBERTVILLE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION

Brad Campbell, Chairperson

Emily Goldman

Julia Taylor

Lisa Rich

Alescia Teel

Charles Kaufmann

Lambertville Environmental Commission

PROTECTING OUR WATER SUPPLIES

Easy Things You Can Do Every Day To Protect Our Water

A Guide to Healthy Habit For Cleaner Water

Pollution on streets, parking lots and lawns is washed by rain into storm drains, then directly to our drinking water supplies and the ocean and lakes our children play in. Fertilizer, oil, pesticides, detergents, pet waste, and grass clippings: You name it and it ends up in our water.

Stormwater pollution is one of New Jersey’s greatest threats to clean and plentiful water, and that’s why we’re all doing something about it.

By sharing the responsibility and making small, easy changes to our daily lives, we can keep common pollutants out of Stormwater. It all adds up to cleaner water, and it saves the high cost of cleaning up once it’s dirty.

KEEP POLUTION OUT OF STORM DRAINS

Do not dump anything into the street, a body of water or storm drains. The imprinted fish and labels on the storm drains remind us that our storm drains lead directly to our river and our drinking water. This water is not treated prior to release into the river.

INSPECT YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM

Annually and pump it out every 3-5 years depending on use. An improperly working septic system can contaminate your water supply, your neighborhood ground water supply and create public health problems. Avoid adding unnecessary grease, household hazardous waste products and solids to the septic system.

OLD OIL TANKS

Replace in ground tanks with an above ground tank. This could prevent a large environmental problem, costly clean ups and delay in future real estate transaction.

LIMIT YOUR USE OF FERTIZERS AND PESTICIDES

Avoid over use of fertilizers or applying fertilizers before a heavy storm. Fertilizers run into the Stormwater; drain into our streams, rivers, water supplies. Fertilizers contain nitrates and phosphates that, in abundance, cause blooms of algae and reduced oxygen levels that can lead to fish kills.

Be aware of accumulation of chemicals resulting from multiple residents treating lawns/landscaping.

Use alternative pesticides whenever possible. Heavy rains carry pesticides to our water supplies. Many household products made to exterminate pests are also toxic to humans, animals, aquatic organisms and plants. If you do use a pesticide, follow the directions carefully.

Wash your car only when necessary. Consider using a commercial car wash that recycles its wash water. Many car detergents contain phosphate. If you wash your car at home, use a non-phosphate detergent.

CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR PET

Use newspaper, bags or pooper-scoopers to pick up wastes.

Dispose of the wrapped pet waste in the trash or unwrapped in a toilet.

Never discard pet waste in a storm drain.