DATE: August 13, 2015
MEDIA CONTACT: Maena Angelotti
Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division
PHONE: 954-519-1462
EMAIL: mangelotti@broward.org
BROWARD COUNTY, FL - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated August as National Water Quality Month. While the recent rains were much needed, Broward continues to be in the midst of extreme drought conditions. NatureScape Broward urges residents to practice good stewardship of this vital resource throughout the year. Best management tips to protect our water include:
- Walk dogs away from water bodies and remember to pick up after them.
- Don't use a hose to clean your driveway; use a broom.
- Inspect your irrigation system regularly for breaks and misaligned sprinkler heads to reduce run-off onto paved areas and overall use of water.
- Use a rain barrel to collect rainwater to water your plants.
- Your toilet and sinks are not wastebaskets. Don't flush medications or other trash down the drain.
- Storm drains are for water, nothing else. Please dispose of chemicals according to manufacturer directions. If you don't know where to dispose of them properly, contact your local Public Works Department.
- Plant trees! Trees catch rainwater, reducing the amount of water that runs off buildings and roads. Storm water runoff is a major source of pollution in urban areas. Trees such as Bald Cypress and Red Maple are also great for those wet spots in your yard.
- Volunteer at local water clean-up events or start your own. Broward County participates in the annual International Coastal Cleanup, sponsored by the Ocean Conservancy. The Cleanup takes place in over 104 countries around the world and typically on the 3rd Saturday of September. The 30th Annual Coastal Cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2015 from 9AM until noon. Email coastalcleanup@broward.org to register for this year's cleanup event.
For more information, visit Water Conservation or contact Maena Angelotti at 954-519-1492.
NatureScape Broward is a program of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division.
About Environmental Planning and Community Resilience
Broward County's Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division protects, restores and enhances the quality, abundance and diversity of the County's natural resources through coordinated management efforts in five areas: water resource policy and planning, urban and natural lands management, beach and marine resources, energy and sustainability, and environmental monitoring. For more information, call 954-519-1270, visit our website or follow us on Twitter.
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