Protecting the Source

Things you can do to Protect your Watershed

Properly maintain your car, reducing oil and other fluid leaks. Recycle the used oil. Call DEP at 1-800-346-4242 to locate the used oil collection site closest to you.

If possible, wash your car on your lawn, reducing amount of water to runoff, or use a commercial carwash that recycles the water.

Don’t pour toxic or hazardous substances down drains or toilets, on the ground, or in streams or down a storm drain. Storm drains may flow into a nearby creek or stream causing it to become polluted. Dispose of hazardous waste at hazardous waste drop off centers. Use natural and less-toxic household products whenever possible.

Regularly maintain and inspect septic systems.


Properly dispose of pet waste, which can be high in bacteria and nutrients.

Limit the use of pesticides and fertilizers on your lawn. Consider using natural organic fertilizers and natural alternatives for chemical pesticides. Avoid applying any fertilizers before a heavy rain is predicted.



Plant native vegetation, reducing the amount of pesticides, fertilizers and watering. For more information, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources for a copy of its brochure, “Landscaping with Native Plants”

If you live close to a creek or stream, plant a riparian buffer zone. A riparian buffer zone is an area of trees, shrubs and bushes planted along the course of a river, creek or stream. The buffer zone reduces the amount of run-off and also removes some of the sediment and contaminants from the water before it enters the stream. Water quality is enhanced due to the shade from the trees reducing the temperature of the water, which improves aquatic life in the stream. The roots of the trees and shrubs also hold in the soil and prevent stream bank erosion.

For more information about riparian buffer zones, call the Authority for our brochure: “Riparian Buffers: Improving Community Water Quality.”

Drain rooftop runoff into rain barrels, storing water to use later in gardens, yards or for house plants. Water collected in a rain barrel would normally pour off your roof directly or flow through roof gutter downspouts and become stormwater runoff.

One of the best things you can do to protect your watershed is to be active in a local watershed association. Contact any of the following watershed associations to find out more information or to join:

North Branch Watershed Association
c/o Bucks County Conservation District, Meghan K. Rogalus
1456 Ferry Road, Suite 704, Doylestown, PA 18901
Phone: (215) 345-7577, Ext. 107 • E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy
1 Skippack Pike, Schwenksville, PA 19473-1800
Phone: (610) 287-9383 • E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.perkiomenwatershed.org

Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association
12 Morris Road, Ambler, PA 19002-5499
Phone: 215-646-8866 • E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.wvwa.org