Clean water. We assume it’s a given every time we swim or surf. Unfortunately, due to the growth and development along our coasts (which hasn’t been sufficiently managed), we’re now encountering negative effects when pollution taints our beaches and coastal waters.
The largest source of beach pollution is storm water runoff. Instead of soaking into the ground, rain typically flows off of paved and city, residential and agricultural landscapes, picking up contaminants as it flows downstream through the watershed and into the ocean. Leaking and overflowing sewer pipes, septic systems and discharges from factories and waste water treatment plants also pollute coastal waters.
Thankfully, Surfrider’s Clean Water Program is helping to solve water pollution problems and to educate communities about the many benefits of responsible land and water management.
The Clean Water Program has 3 elements: The Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) is Surfrider’s volunteer water testing formula. This program is used to determine the condition of beach water and to raise community awareness of local water pollution problems. Ocean Friendly Gardens educates and assists people in taking action in commercial or public spaces, or their own yards to prevent pollution. The goal is to capture rainwater on-site before it can leave the property and carry pollutants to the ocean. Finally, Surfrider’s newest program, Know Your H2O (KYH2O) educates communities on how we mismanage and waste our precious water resources, and presents solutions for integrated land and water management.
For further details on the programs, go to Surfrider’s Clean Water Program page. But, if you want to do something right now, anyone that donates at least $10 until March 14th will receive a bundle of 5 stickers and a Surfrider koozie. Donate here on their Facebook Causes Page
It will get you in the spirit for World Water Day, which is March 22nd.
