Source Water Protection
We All Live Downstream!
It is the truth! In a watershed, we all live downstream. This means that the quality of water available to us is determined by our upstream neighbors. The water that you bath in, wash your clothes in, and drink comes from lakes, rivers, or groundwater. Thus it is vital that we serve as environmental stewards of our watersheds, protecting the quality of that water for those who live downstream. What can you do to protect and improve your watershed? Watch this short video to find out.
It is the truth! In a watershed, we all live downstream. This means that the quality of water available to us is determined by our upstream neighbors. The water that you bath in, wash your clothes in, and drink comes from lakes, rivers, or groundwater. Thus it is vital that we serve as environmental stewards of our watersheds, protecting the quality of that water for those who live downstream. What can you do to protect and improve your watershed? Watch this short video to find out.
Saving Money through Prevention
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
― Benjamin Franklin
By investing in a strong Watershed Protection Program the Provo River Watershed Council is able to prevent water quality problems from happening before they get to the treatment plants. Prevention can not only save water agencies money, but it can also save communities money in many ways.
Communities with effective drinking water contamination prevention programs may enjoy substantial savings in the costs of complying with the Safe Drinking Water Act or similar state regulations. For example, water purveyors that minimize algae growth by implementing programs that prevent nutrients from entering water supply reservoirs will likely minimize the cost for treating the water to remove total organic carbon in compliance with the Disinfection Byproducts Rule.
Water suppliers with programs in place to prevent contamination of drinking water also may be eligible for waivers from some monitoring requirements, thereby reducing monitoring costs. An example of this is in Massachusetts where waivers have saved water systems there approximately $22 million over a recent three-year compliance cycle, while Texas water systems saved $49 million over two and one-half years.
In addition, water can be thought of as a commodity that water systems sell and farmers use as a raw material. Once it becomes contaminated, it loses value because it cannot be sold to customers, or it must be treated prior to being sold or used. Clean water has value to the water system, determined by the price of water its customers are willing to pay.
Quick Things You Can Do To Protect Provo River Water!
Safe Drinking Water Starts at the Source
Put up signs. Post signs along the border of your source water protection area to notify people that any pollution in that area can affect the quality of local drinking water.
Use and dispose of harmful materials properly. Don't dump them on the ground! Hazardous waste that is dumped on or buried in the ground can contaminate the soil and can move down into the ground water or be carried into nearby surface waters by runoff during rainstorms. You might be surprised to learn that a number of products you use at home contain hazardous or toxic substances. Products like motor oil, pesticides, leftover paints or paint cans, mothballs, flea collars, weed killers, household cleaners and even a number of medicines contain materials that can be harmful to surface water and ground water.
Don't overuse pesticides or fertilizers. You might apply fertilizers to make your grass thick and green, your flowers colorful and your vegetable crop abundant. You also might use pesticides to keep bugs from ruining what the fertilizers have helped to produce. What you might not know is that many of these fertilizers and pesticides contain hazardous chemicals that can travel through the soil and contaminate ground water. If you feel you must use these chemicals, use them in moderation.
Identify ways you can help prevent runoff pollution from your home, business or farm. Check out Give Water a Hand (for students) or the National Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst Voluntary Assessment Programs (for farmers and homeowners) to find out how you can be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
Join in a stream or wetland cleanup. You can make new friends while you help protect source water.
Prepare a presentation about the Provo River Watershed for a school or civic organization. Discuss water quality threats, including polluted runoff and habitat loss. Highlight things people can do to protect water quality, including limiting fertilizer use and eliminating the use of herbicides and pesticides. Use information from our Education and Information Page or research your presentation using EPA's Nonpoint Source Program.
Provo River Education and Information Page
EPA's nonpoint source program
Organize a storm drain stenciling project or post a sign near an irrigation canal Stencil a message next to the street drain reminding people "Dump No Waste - Drains to River" with the image of a fish. Stencils are also available for lakes, streams, and ground water, as well as the simple "Protect Your Water" logo with the image of a glass and faucet. Produce and distribute a flyer for households to remind residents that storm drains and canals dump directly into your local water body.
Storm drain stenciling project guidelines
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
― Benjamin Franklin
By investing in a strong Watershed Protection Program the Provo River Watershed Council is able to prevent water quality problems from happening before they get to the treatment plants. Prevention can not only save water agencies money, but it can also save communities money in many ways.
Communities with effective drinking water contamination prevention programs may enjoy substantial savings in the costs of complying with the Safe Drinking Water Act or similar state regulations. For example, water purveyors that minimize algae growth by implementing programs that prevent nutrients from entering water supply reservoirs will likely minimize the cost for treating the water to remove total organic carbon in compliance with the Disinfection Byproducts Rule.
Water suppliers with programs in place to prevent contamination of drinking water also may be eligible for waivers from some monitoring requirements, thereby reducing monitoring costs. An example of this is in Massachusetts where waivers have saved water systems there approximately $22 million over a recent three-year compliance cycle, while Texas water systems saved $49 million over two and one-half years.
In addition, water can be thought of as a commodity that water systems sell and farmers use as a raw material. Once it becomes contaminated, it loses value because it cannot be sold to customers, or it must be treated prior to being sold or used. Clean water has value to the water system, determined by the price of water its customers are willing to pay.
Quick Things You Can Do To Protect Provo River Water!
Safe Drinking Water Starts at the Source
Put up signs. Post signs along the border of your source water protection area to notify people that any pollution in that area can affect the quality of local drinking water.
Use and dispose of harmful materials properly. Don't dump them on the ground! Hazardous waste that is dumped on or buried in the ground can contaminate the soil and can move down into the ground water or be carried into nearby surface waters by runoff during rainstorms. You might be surprised to learn that a number of products you use at home contain hazardous or toxic substances. Products like motor oil, pesticides, leftover paints or paint cans, mothballs, flea collars, weed killers, household cleaners and even a number of medicines contain materials that can be harmful to surface water and ground water.
Don't overuse pesticides or fertilizers. You might apply fertilizers to make your grass thick and green, your flowers colorful and your vegetable crop abundant. You also might use pesticides to keep bugs from ruining what the fertilizers have helped to produce. What you might not know is that many of these fertilizers and pesticides contain hazardous chemicals that can travel through the soil and contaminate ground water. If you feel you must use these chemicals, use them in moderation.
Identify ways you can help prevent runoff pollution from your home, business or farm. Check out Give Water a Hand (for students) or the National Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst Voluntary Assessment Programs (for farmers and homeowners) to find out how you can be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
Join in a stream or wetland cleanup. You can make new friends while you help protect source water.
Prepare a presentation about the Provo River Watershed for a school or civic organization. Discuss water quality threats, including polluted runoff and habitat loss. Highlight things people can do to protect water quality, including limiting fertilizer use and eliminating the use of herbicides and pesticides. Use information from our Education and Information Page or research your presentation using EPA's Nonpoint Source Program.
Provo River Education and Information Page
EPA's nonpoint source program
Organize a storm drain stenciling project or post a sign near an irrigation canal Stencil a message next to the street drain reminding people "Dump No Waste - Drains to River" with the image of a fish. Stencils are also available for lakes, streams, and ground water, as well as the simple "Protect Your Water" logo with the image of a glass and faucet. Produce and distribute a flyer for households to remind residents that storm drains and canals dump directly into your local water body.
Storm drain stenciling project guidelines
