Chemical spills and agricultural runoff naturally move downhill toward floodplains, where waterways and wetlands are located. It is important to keep all sewage, oils, paints, and other chemicals from reaching our wetlands, rivers, estuaries, and oceans. Spills can be prevented by properly disposing of items (e.g., motor oil can be taken to a local auto parts store for free, cooking oil can be recycled at many local recycling centers, hazardous waste can be removed properly by working with the state or certified private companies). If a small spill occurs, dry materials (e.g., kitty litter, sand) can be placed on spilled oil, paint, or chemicals to soak them up and then be swept up and thrown away. Larger spills should be reported to local stormwater management divisions or to the North Carolina Division of Water Resources Pretreatment, Emergency Response & Collection Systems Branch. Remember, anything but water going down a storm drain is pollution. North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Environmental Assistance and Customer Service line phone number: 877-623-6748

Trees provide many benefits to us and the environment, like giving us oxygen, shade, beauty, habitat, food…. Trees in wetlands help slow down flowing water, they help control water levels by taking up water and returning it to the atmosphere (i.e., transpiration), they keep soil from washing away, and they provide shade and shelter for animals. Make sure it is the right kind of tree for the environment you are choosing, because some trees need lots of water like wetlands provide, but other trees can drown in wet areas. Planting native trees is always a good idea.

Litter affects us all! Whether it’s your trash or not—if you see something, do something! Begin by recycling whenever possible, securing trash as it’s transported, and disposing of trash properly. Also, pick up any trash you see on the ground to prevent it from washing into our wetlands, streams, rivers, or ocean after the next wind or rain. It is important to keep trash out of storm drains because most of these drains carry rainwater, and everything in it, directly to a nearby wetland or stream. North Carolina generates 33,000 tons of trash every day – let’s keep that out of our water!

Secure your load! “Make sure your loads are secure and no loose trash can fly out of your open window or your truck bed. Littering is a violation of state law that the Highway Patrol takes seriously.” – NC State Highway Patrol. Careless drivers could wind up picking up their own litter. It’s illegal under North Carolina law to haul an improperly secured load. penalties include up to a $2,000 fine, community service, and one point on a motorist’s driver license upon conviction.

Native plants are best – providing important food, shelter, nutrients, etc. to their environment. You can work on your own or with a local group to remove invasive plants, allowing plants that belong (native) to grow well in their typical habitat. Invasive species were introduced to an area from somewhere else, and now are taking up space that other native plants and animals need. North Carolina has several invasive species that need to be removed; the ones living in water include Alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides), Creeping water primrose (Ludwigia grandiflora), Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata), Parrotfeather (Myriophyllum aquaticum), and others (Aquatic Weeds found in North Carolina). Other invasive plants often seen in wetlands include Chinese and Japanese privet (Ligustrum sp.), Japanese stilt-grass (Microstegium vimineum), Common reed (Phragmites australis), and others (Invasive Exotic Species List).

The less water we all use, the easier it is for water levels to stay normal in wetlands, rivers, lakes and underground water sources, and the easier it is for wetlands to continue to provide us great benefits. The average American uses 80 to 100 gallons of water per day. With 10 million people living in North Carolina, that equals 800,000,000 to 1 billion gallons of water used by people every day in North Carolina! Changing daily routines can save a lot of water by lowering daily water usage.

Inside the house:

• turn tap water off while brushing teeth (leaving it running = 13 gallons)
• take shorter showers, showers instead of baths, or don’t fill the whole bathtub (full bath = 70 gallons, 10-minute shower = 25 gallons)
• upgrade your showerhead (most showerheads = 2.5 gallons a minute, high-efficiency = 1.5 gallons per minute)
• upgrade your washing machine (regular = 40 gallons, high-efficiency = 28 gallons)
• change your toilets (older model = 5 gallons per flush, watersense = 1.28 gallons per flush)
• check for and fix water leaks (leaky toilet = up to 200 gallons per day)

Outside the house, harvesting rainwater and reusing water for watering lawns and gardens can help reduce water use, especially during dry periods. Other water conservation ideas can be found at SaveWaterNC.