News release from Fort Wayne City Utilities:
Do Your Part – Prevent Pollution
National Week Focuses on Pollutants Produced in the Community
Fort Wayne City Utilities Announces Pollution Prevention Week ActivitiesFort Wayne City Utilities joins communities around the country in recognizing National Pollution Prevention. Sponsored by the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable and the Environmental Protection Agency, the week focuses on reducing pollution at the source and educating us as to what we can do to reduce pollution.
“Keeping Our Water Clean” is the theme for City Utilities’ celebration of Pollution Prevention Week September 17 – 23, 2012. During the week City Utilities is hosting events and providing information about actions residents can take to reduce water pollution and improve the quality of our rivers.
Learn About Rain Gardens and Visit a Wetlands
On Thursday, September 20 from 4:00 until 7:00 PM, information about rain gardens will be available during an open house in the West Lobby of Citizens Square at 200 E. Berry Street.
Rain gardens are landscaped areas that allow rain water runoff to accumulate during rain storms then soak into the ground rather than running off into storm sewers or streams. Rain water runoff potentially carries many pollutants and receives no treatment before it goes into a water body. Rain gardens can help improve the quality of water that does run off and may also reduce some localized drainage issues by helping water soak into the ground.
During the open house, City Utilities staff, Master Gardeners and landscape architects will be available to answer general question about rain gardens and to provide information about City Utilities’ program to encourage rain garden planting. More information about rain gardens may be found at www.CatchingRainFW.org.
The Camp Scott wetlands
The Camp Scott wetlands at 3615 Oxford Street is a constructed area designed to store and clean stormwater runoff before discharging it in the Maumee River. The wetlands will be open on Saturday, September 22 from 7:00 AM until noon for tours and activities.
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[li]7:15 – 8:00 Breakfast with the birds – Bring your binoculars and join us for a light breakfast and a bird watching walk[/li]
[li]8:30 Water Quality Testing – Learn about the water in the wetlands[/li]
[li]9:30 Wildflower Walk – Master Gardener Martha Ferguson will identify native wildflowers blooming in the wetlands[/li]
[li]9:45 Water Quality Testing – Learn about the water in the wetlands[/li]
[li]10:30 Wildflower Walk – Master Gardener Martha Ferguson will identify native wildflowers blooming in the wetlands[/li]
[li]11:00 Make a Nature Journal[/li]
[/list]Throughout the event:
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[li]Draw What You Saw[/li]
[li]Origami[/li]
[li]Make and Take Pinecone Bird Feeder[/li]
[/list]Receive a package of activities to do at home!
Pollution Prevention Ideas
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[li]Reduce the chemicals used for cleaning by trying some Recipes for Household Cleaners posted on the website. These use less toxic cleaning agents such as vinegar, baking soda, salt and lemon juice.[/li]
[li]Use fewer lawn chemicals to reduce water pollution and can make the lawn safer as a place for children and pets to play. City Utilities also recommends grass-cycling and composting to reduce the amount of yard waste potentially being sent to the landfill.[/li]
[li]Oil, antifreeze and other automotive fluids contain dangerous chemicals. When these and other fluids leak from vehicles the chemicals may be carried to a nearby pond or stream when it rains. Fixing automotive leaks helps prevent water pollution.[/li]
[/list]Practicing pollution prevention in the home, garden and on the road can help improve the quality of the local environment. As part of Pollution Prevention Week, City Utilities has posted the above suggestions for reducing pollution at www.cityoffortwayne.org/utilities.
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