Thank You for Protecting OC’s Water Resources

In this month of gratitude, H₂OC would like to thank our OC community for all you do to protect our watersheds and local waterways. From actions at home like securing lids on trash cans and recycling bins to participating in local clean-up events, our OC community is dedicated to preventing runoff pollution. When runoff from rainfall or outdoor water use flows over surfaces around our homes, it picks up and carries common pollutants such as trash, yard debris, pet waste, pesticides, and fertilizers to surface waters through our storm drains. Water in our storm drain system is not cleaned or treated before being released into our creeks, rivers, and eventually the ocean, which can be harmful to our environment, wildlife and even human health.

OC Residents Are the Solution to Runoff Pollution!

It’s clear that OC residents are taking an active role in protecting our water resources. During September’s month-long Coastal Cleanup event, 276 volunteers removed 1,262 pounds of trash along 45 miles of OC coastline. You can also check out our interactive Overwatering is Out map to see just some of the water pollution prevention happening around our county.

Here are More Ways to Get Involved in Your Community and Spread the Word!

• Learn more about your watershed. No matter where you live, you live in a watershed. Check out our Show Me My Watershed page to see which watershed you live in and the EPA’s interactive How’s My Waterway map that provides additional details on the quality of your local watershed. For more information on watersheds, view our What is a Watershed page and Tips for Protecting Your Watershed. You can even involve your kids in learning about watersheds and pollution prevention through our kids’ Watershed Activity Workbook.
• Monitor water quality and report pollution. Explore and make observations about the conditions of our local creeks, trails, and ocean. If you see anything abnormal (such as dead fish, oil spills, leaking barrels, and other pollution), contact the Orange County 24-hour water pollution reporting hotline at 1.877.89.SPILL (1-877-897-7455) to report the problem or visit our report pollution page.
• Participate in local beach or community cleanup efforts. See our Events page for information on various cleanup events throughout OC where you and your family members, friends, and neighbors can join together in helping to keep our waterways clean.
• Become an Adopter in the Adopt A Channel program. This program encourages community members to actively participate in keeping our waterways clean by adopting one of OC’s flood control channels to keep it free of trash and debris. By taking direct action to improve our environment, adopters inspire other community organizations, businesses, and residents to take ownership of our water resources. See myOCeServices and the Adopt A Channel blog and video for more information on the program.
• Take the Overwatering is Out Challenge. Join your neighbors who are helping to stop overwatering! Visit the Overwatering is Out page on h2oc.org to learn about the different actions you can take to reduce irrigation runoff on your property. Select from Watering, Landscape Improvement, or Capture Water and be sure to click “I commit to complete this action” for the actions you choose. Once you’ve completed an action, put yourself on the map to show what actions our OC community is taking to promote cleaner and healthier waterways.
• Spread the Word. Remember, you are the solution to runoff pollution! To protect our waterways, share your knowledge about preventing water pollution and encourage others to do the same. For more information on water pollution prevention visit the rest of our H₂OC Stormwater Program website and Solution to Runoff Pollution brochure.

Thank you OC, for your continued efforts to protect and preserve the beauty and health of our waterways, wetlands, beaches and ocean!

Did this article help you understand how your efforts can have a positive impact on our water quality and waterways? What actions do you take to prevent water pollution? Let us know in the comments.