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Public Works > News > Doing Your Part to Keep Local Waterways Clean
Doing Your Part to Keep Local Waterways Clean
The information on this page may be outdated as it was published 5 years ago.
Keeping Our Waters Clean
Every time you turn on the faucet, you have a local waterway to thank for the clean water that comes flowing out. And every time your kids or pets play in a river or lake, they're enjoying rainwater that landed on a home, business, street, or sidewalk somewhere upstream from your location.
When our ancestors first arrived in this area, those waterways (Charles River and Alewife Brook) were surrounded by vast wetlands and forests and the waterways were sparkling clean. But today, our waterways are surrounded by buildings, roads and parking lots. And our waterways just aren't as clean as they could be. But if everybody does their part and takes some simple steps to make a difference, our rivers could be clean and sparkling again!
Stormwater pollution occurs when rain or snowmelt washes pollutants such as oil, fertilizers, pet waste and trash over land and into the nearest catch basin, which flows directly to the nearest water body. Cambridge is working to reduce the amount of pollutants that enter our water.
You can help by following a few simple Clean Water Tips:
Tip #1: Scoop Your Dog's Poop
Tip #2: Catch Your Rain in a Rain Barrel or Rain Garden
Tip #3: Test Your Soil and Read Your Fertilizer Labels
Tip #4: Bag Your Grass Clippings/Yard Waste or Compost
Tip #5: In the Fall Bag Your Leaves
Tip #6: In the Winter Use Deicers Smartly and Sparingly
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