Saving water will help keep Long Island Sound clean by reducing the volume of water going through the sewage treatment plant. A dripping faucet can waste 20 gallons of water a day and a leaking toilet 200 gallons. If your water meter moves when no water is running, you have a leak. Use water sparingly while brushing your teeth, washing dishes, or shaving. Install a water conservation shower head and take short showers instead of baths. A bath uses 30-50 gallons of water. A shower only 10.

Many products under your sink or in the garage can harm our waterways. Never pour paints, preservatives, brush cleaners, and solvents down a drain. Sewers or septic tanks do not treat these materials, and they can enter waterways untreated. Buy the product with the least amount of toxic material. Used turpentine and brush cleaners can be filtered and reused. Learn about your county’s household hazardous waste disposal program. For information call the Westchester County Household Chemical Info Line at (914) 637-3037, or log onto the County website at www.westchestergov.com

Lawns with trees and shrubs prevent erosion, soak up nutrients before they runoff into waterways, and improve your soil by adding organic material. Plant the right grass by testing your soil annually. Use the proper fertilizer, and do not over-fertilize. Improper fertilizing can lead to disease, poor root growth, and weed problems. Water your yard only when it’s dry by soaking the soil to a depth of 4-6 inches. Make sure your lawn service is customized to your lawn’s needs.

Limit toxic chemicals you use on your yard. By retaining rainwater you improve the water quality of our waterways, reduce erosion, replenish the groundwater supply, and reduce the need for fertilizers. Trees, shrubs and groundcover reduce runoff and soak up nutrients which helps clean the water. They will be most effective if planted as a buffer around your yard or in a bare area. They also require less maintenance, fertilizer and herbicides than grass.

When rain falls on hard surfaces such as walkways, patios and driveways, it can go into a storm drain and be carried to our waterways. This water can’t nourish the soil, and it deposits sediments and nutrients which overload our waterways. Rain soaks into soft ground and provides nourishment. Slow down run-off by reducing the amount of hard surfaces around your home. Wood decks with space between the boards allow water to drain into the ground. Brick or interlocking stone walkways also permit water to seep into the soil. Diverting rain from paved surfaces onto grass reduces run-off into storm drains.

Oils can harm our waterways if they flow into storm drains or off paved surfaces into a waterway. Contain these fluids when you change them. To dispose of these materials, check you local service station. Wash your car on grass so that the water and detergent are filtered through the grass before entering our waterways.

If pesticides, oil, or similar products leak or spill onto the garage floor, driveway, or other hard surface, do not wash down the area. This will cause further contamination and may carry the material to drain or other water sources. Surround the contaminated area with dirt or sprinkle sawdust, kitty litter, or other absorbent material over the spill. Put the material into a strong plastic bag and put the bag in the trash.