What You Can Do

Conserving and protecting our water supply is a job for everyone. It’s cost-effective and simple to do. There are hundreds of ways to conserve water – everything from turning off the faucet while you brush to using low flow appliances.

Did you know that about one-third of Howard County government’s electric bill is dedicated to water treatment? Another great reason to use less water at home.

Drinking Water and Wastewater

One of the most impactful things you can do to improve the health of not only streams and rivers in our watershed but also of the drinking water used by your family and those around you is to reduce your use of sidewalk and road salt as much as possible! When used in excess quantities near ground wells or along water bodies, road salt has the ability to soak into the ground as it dissolves and infiltrate either the well or the river. It can increase the sodium and chloride content of drinking water, leading to corroded and damaged pipes and appliances and, in the most extreme scenarios, health issues for those drinking the water. For more information on proper road salting methods visit the Clean Water Howard website.

Water Saving Tips – Indoors

It is more efficient to wash dishes in a fully loaded dishwasher than by hand.

When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run while rinsing. Fill a small amount of water in the sink for washing. Rinse over the wash water making sure to turn the faucet on low only when rinsing several dishes at once. This will add more water to the soapy wash water by the time you get to washing large dishes like pots and pans. Or, if you have a second sink, fill it partially with rinse water.

Grease and fats should be wiped from dishes/pans/pots with a paper towel before washing so that it doesn’t clog drains.

Avoid using kitchen sink garbage disposal units. In-sink disposals require a lot of water to operate properly, and also add considerably to the amount of water treatment required at the treatment plant. Compost instead!

Check faucets and pipes for leaks. A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste 20 gallons of water per day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds of gallons.

Water Saving Tips – Outdoors

If you need to water your lawn (e.g. when it’s newly planted), adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street. During the peak of summer, grass becomes dormant and browns slightly, it does not die – this is a natural occurrence and continual watering is not necessary.

Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. A taller lawn shades roots and holds soil moisture better than if it is closely clipped.

Spreading a layer of organic mulch around plants retains moisture so you can water less frequently.

Use a rain barrel. Rain barrels collect water from your downspouts during a rain storm so that you can use that water instead of treated water. Connecting your rain barrel to a soaker hose to is also a good idea. It allows for slow irrigation of plants or a newly planted lawn. Visit the Howard Department of Public Works’ Rain Barrel page for info on how to get a free barrel from the County’s Bureau of Environmental Services.

Keep your pool water level low to minimize splashing. Use a cover to slow evaporation (keeps water cleaner, too).

Stormwater

There are a variety of ways to manage stormwater on your residential (or commercial or non-profit) property, such as installing a stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) that captures, diverts, or slows down the flow of water.

If you’re not sure where to start, Howard County organizations can provide guidance and recommendations:

  • You can slow down the flow of stormwater from your property by installing a rain garden or rain barrel.
  • Consider planting native flowers, grasses, trees and shrubs to help encourage proper drainage and infiltration of the stormwater into the ground and address problems with muddy or slow-drying areas of your property. Native plants have much deeper root systems than most traditional turf grass lawn species, and these roots create channels in the soil that allows the water to sink into the ground while also taking that water up for the plant itself to use.
  • For more information on planting native pollinator habitat in your yard, visit the Howard County Bee City website or explore this list of plants that work well in rain gardens.

To talk to a professional regarding stormwater concerns on your property, or to learn more about what you can do to help with stormwater sustainability in Howard County, see below:

  •  The CleanScapes program facilitates the installation of stormwater management practices such as rain gardens, conservation landscaping, dry wells, and more on residential properties with a percentage of the cost covered and with credit towards of a reduction of your Watershed Protection Fee.
  • The Maryland Extension’s Bay-Wise Program, in coordination with Master Gardeners, provides site visits to receive feedback and recommendations on turf removal in your yard as well as stormwater drainage concerns. Similarly, Anne Arundel Watershed Stewards Academy will visit your property and carry out a Residential Site Assessment. Both programs will provide you with a full report and connect you with stormwater management professionals for the next steps in the process.

For agricultural, non-profit, and commercial properties, there are other solutions supported by departments such as the Howard County Soil Conservation District and the Howard County Office of Community Sustainability.

stormwater

Volunteer

Howard County’s storm drain stenciling program allows stenciling of the message “Only Rain Down the Drain” and then “Drains to Patuxent River” or “Drains to Patapsco River” depending on which watershed you are in. Visit the stencil page on CleanWaterHoward.com to learn more.

Several local non-profit organizations focus on watershed issues. Visit the Local Environmental Groups page on this website to get started.

Howard County funds grants to local non-profit groups to promote outreach and restoration in our watersheds. Apply for a grant to help your community protect water resources through the Chesapeake Bay Trust.