Things You and Your Community Can Do to Protect Water Resources

  • Maintain open, forested floodplains - Filling floodplains shortchanges the filtering power of natural areas and increases flooding elsewhere. It is also illegal.
  • Plant trees and maintain streamside buffers - Streamside trees and native vegetation help filter stormwater run-off and help hold streambank soils in place. The DEP recently enacted a 75' buffer along streams to enhance water quality and reduce stormwater runoff. Delaware Riverkeeper.org
  • Maintain a naturally vegetated edge between creeks and pastures or cultivated fields - A naturally vegetated stream buffer will filter out excess fertilizers and pesticides from adjacent farm fields.
  • Promote clustering where new development is likely - Clustered developments require less pavement for roads and sidewalks and and retain more of the overall parcel as open space.
  • Disconnect your downspout from the street drain and Plant a Rain Garden - Rainwater from your roof is just as damaging to creeks and streams as runoff from a parking lot. Let your yard help filter out impurities and infiltrate stormwater back into your aquifer. If you don't have street drains, be certain stormwater coming through your downspouts is directed onto your own property and not into the road, road ditch, or a neighbor's property. Consider disconnecting your downspouts and installing rain barrels instead. They can provide water for your gardens. Please stop by the township building for ideas or consult the Rain Garden publications and visit the rain garden blog at the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy site. The Bucks County Conservation District supports the construction of rain gardens and puts out this BCCD Rain Garden Pamphlet.
  • Reduce your use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides - Follow directions for weed killers and pesticides very carefully, or consider discontinuing their use. Much of the chemicals and fertilizers you apply in the spring flow directly into the local creeks and seep into ground waters because the grass is not ready to absorb it. Set your mower height at 3 inches and use a mulching mower to create a healthy, organic lawn. Fertilize only in the fall. Consider Grasscycling.
  • Never, ever, dump household substances or used oil into a storm drain - Bring used oil to certified recyclers. 
  • Convert large yards or public spaces from mown grass to meadows - The typical suburban lawn is nearly as impervious as a parking lot! Native meadow grasses infiltrate stormwater better and provide critical habitat for grassland birds. Consider converting a portion of your lawn into a meadows with paths through it to observe the wildlife.
  • Pick up after your pets and keep livestock out of steams - Pet and animal wastes carry many harmful bacteria and possible diseases. They make creeks less amenable to native critters and require expensive water treatment for human use. Studies by the Center for Watershed Protection have found that a significant portion of fecal coliform bacteria in residential stormwater originates from canine waste.
  • Keep paved surfaces to a minimum - Reduce impervious surfaces. Patios and parking spaces can be created with attractive pervious materials that allow stormwater infiltration to the soils below.
  • Maintain Your Swimming Pool