Water is one of our most precious natural resources. We rely on freshwater for drinking, recreation, electrical power, agriculture – necessities for happy, healthy lives. But this limited resource is under threat. As our population grows, it is critical that we work together to protect and preserve our water supply.
Even though national, state, and municipality regulations call for strict industry effluent standards, waterways remain endangered by a pervasive but easily solvable hazard: trash. The good news is that each state has launched initiatives to combat litter and its disastrous effects.
In Georgia, the governor recently signed Senate Bill 119, which designates the first Monday in May each year as Water Appreciation Day. Intended to raise awareness, appreciation, and preservation of clean water, Water Appreciation Day will include stream clean-ups via Rivers Alive, Georgia EPD’s watershed outreach program.
Other southeastern states have their own projects:
- In Alabama, Alabama Power’s Renew Our Rivers program and Alabama PALS’sAdopt-A-Stream program offer clean-up events throughout the year.
- Visit South Carolina’s annual Beach Sweep River Sweep cleanup website for complete details on this statewide event, which also includes lakes.
- North Carolina Big Sweep organizes and manages an annual statewide clean-up and fosters environmental education year-round.
- American Rivers’ Southeast Region page lists their current local projects and ways you can get involved.
- The United States EPA website lets you search for clean-ups in your area.
On Water Appreciation Day, May 2, 2015, Environmental Remedies employees worked together to clean up a creek near our plant. In one day, we removed 720 pounds of trash. It was easy to organize, and it made a huge difference to the environment.
You can be part of the solution, too. Clean-up projects are perfect for volunteers of all kinds. Make plans to take part in statewide clean-up events. Or coordinate your own clean-up day; your state environmental organizations have the tools you need. You can also join in ongoing events that fit your schedule. A few hours of your time will result in a major positive impact on our finite water resources.