Helping Virginia's Waterways: Practical Steps To Reduce Pollution

Water pollution is a pressing issue in Virginia, with threats to water quality coming from heavy industry, bad energy policy, wastewater plants, urban runoff, and agricultural pollution. To address this, individuals can take action by volunteering with organisations like Virginia Save Our Streams, which mobilises volunteers to monitor and improve the quality of local streams and creeks. Citizens are also encouraged to make small changes in their everyday behaviour, such as organising community stream clean-up events and adopting water-efficient landscaping practices.

Become a volunteer monitor for Virginia Save Our Streams

Virginia Save Our Streams (VA SOS) is a programme that mobilises volunteers to monitor the quality of their local streams and creeks. Volunteers collect data on hundreds of stream sites across the state, which is then submitted to a central database and provided to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). This data helps the DEQ to report on water quality to Congress, which can lead to federal funding and resources for restoring and protecting impaired or polluted waterways.

To become a volunteer monitor for VA SOS, you can sign up on their website. As a volunteer, you will be trained to collect water samples and conduct basic water quality tests. You will also be provided with the necessary equipment and materials to carry out your monitoring activities.

As a volunteer monitor, you will be assigned to a specific stream or creek site in your local area. You will be responsible for regularly collecting water samples and conducting tests at your assigned site. The data you collect will help VA SOS and the DEQ to understand the water quality at your site and identify any potential issues or sources of pollution.

In addition to collecting data, VA SOS encourages its volunteers to take an active role in protecting and restoring their local waterways. This may include organising stream clean-up events in your community, advocating for stronger water protection policies, or educating others about the importance of water quality.

By becoming a volunteer monitor for VA SOS, you can make a direct impact on the health of your local waterways and help ensure that Virginia's streams and creeks are safe and accessible for all.

Organise a community stream clean-up event

One of the most effective ways to help tackle water pollution in Virginia is to organise a community stream clean-up event. This will help to remove litter and other pollutants from local waterways, improving water quality and protecting the environment.

To get started, reach out to your local community and gather a group of volunteers who are passionate about protecting their local streams and creeks. You can promote your event through social media, posters, and word-of-mouth to ensure a good turnout.

On the day of the event, provide volunteers with the necessary equipment, such as gloves, trash bags, and litter pickers. Divide the group into smaller teams and assign each team a specific section of the stream to clean. This will ensure that the entire stream is covered and that no area is overlooked.

It is important to prioritise safety during the clean-up event. Ensure that all volunteers are aware of potential hazards, such as slippery surfaces or sharp objects, and provide them with the necessary guidance and equipment to stay safe.

In addition to removing litter, you can also encourage volunteers to report any signs of pollution or environmental degradation. This can include taking note of any unusual odours, discoloured water, or dead fish, and reporting this information to the relevant authorities.

By organising a community stream clean-up event, you can make a direct and positive impact on the water quality in your local area. Not only will this help to protect the environment, but it will also raise awareness about the issue of water pollution and encourage others to take action.

Landscape your home with native plants

One way to help with water pollution in Virginia is to landscape your home with native plants. Native trees, shrubs and flowers do not need to be watered or fertilised, which helps to protect water quality. If you do need to water your plants, use drip irrigation or soaker hoses. You can also capture rainwater from rooftops in rain barrels and use it to water plants.

Native plants are adapted to the local environment and can help to reduce water pollution by filtering and absorbing excess nutrients and pollutants from the water. They also provide food and habitat for local wildlife, including pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

When choosing native plants for your landscape, consider the specific conditions of your site, such as sun exposure, soil type and moisture levels. Select a variety of plants that will provide year-round interest, including spring-blooming bulbs, summer-flowering perennials, and autumn-colour shrubs.

You can find native plants for your landscape at local nurseries or through online sources. When planting, be sure to follow best practices for plant spacing and watering to ensure the health and longevity of your new landscape.

In addition to landscaping with native plants, there are other ways to help reduce water pollution in Virginia. You can get involved with organisations such as Virginia Save Our Streams, which mobilises volunteers to monitor the quality of local streams and creeks. This data is provided to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and helps to inform policy and funding decisions for water protection and restoration.

Familiarise yourself with your local erosion and sediment control ordinances

To help with water pollution in Virginia, you can familiarise yourself with your local erosion and sediment control ordinances. These are laws that are in place to prevent soil from eroding and sediment from being washed into nearby water sources. They are important because sediment can carry pollutants such as fertilisers and pesticides, which can contaminate water sources and harm the environment.

Each county and state has its own set of erosion and sediment control ordinances, so it is important to familiarise yourself with the specific laws and regulations in your area. You can find this information by contacting your local government or by searching for your county or state's erosion and sediment control ordinances online.

Once you have familiarised yourself with the local erosion and sediment control ordinances, you can help enforce them by reporting any sites that are out of compliance. This may include construction sites, agricultural areas, or other locations where soil is being disturbed. By reporting these sites, you can help ensure that proper measures are being taken to prevent soil erosion and sediment runoff, which can ultimately help to improve water quality in your area.

In addition to familiarising yourself with the local ordinances, you can also take other steps to help reduce water pollution in Virginia. This includes volunteering with organisations such as Virginia Save Our Streams, which mobilises volunteers to monitor the quality of local streams and creeks. You can also make small changes in your everyday behaviour, such as using drip irrigation or soaker hoses to water your plants, or capturing rainwater from rooftops to use for watering plants. By taking these actions, you can help improve water quality and protect Virginia's waterways.

Advocate for strong protections and funding mechanisms to reduce pollution

You can advocate for strong protections and funding mechanisms to reduce pollution in Virginia by supporting organisations such as Virginia Save Our Streams and Virginia LCV. These organisations work to protect and preserve water quality across the state, advocating for strong protections and funding mechanisms that help restore water quality, reduce pollution runoff and protect clean water for communities.

Virginia Save Our Streams mobilises volunteers across the state to monitor the quality of their local streams and creeks. Volunteers collect critical data and submit it to a central database, which is provided to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. This data helps the DEQ to identify impaired or polluted waterways, which can then receive funding and other resources from the federal government to help restore and protect them.

Virginia LCV is committed to protecting and preserving water quality across Virginia, from the smallest streams to the widest rivers. They advocate for strong protections at the General Assembly and for funding mechanisms that help reduce pollution runoff and protect clean water for communities.

You can also get involved by becoming familiar with your local erosion and sediment control ordinances and reporting sites that are out of compliance. This can help to reduce pollution and protect water quality at the local level.

Additionally, you can make small changes in your everyday behaviour to protect water quality. This includes organising stream clean-up events in your community, landscaping your home with native plants that do not need to be watered or fertilised, and capturing rainwater from rooftops to water plants.

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