4 Easy Habits Improve Water

Refrain from pouring grease, oil, or fats down the drain:

Effect: Clogs the pipes downstream of the home/business.
Alternative: Place in sealed container and dispose in trash.

Refrain from putting expired/unused pharmaceuticals down the drain:

Effect: Clogs the pipes downstream of the home/business.
Alternative: Place in sealed container and dispose in trash.

Reduce the amount of salt used in water softener systems:

Effect: Increased salt content in treated wastewater makes it unsuitable for reuse applications (i.e. placing on golf courses). Wastewater treatment facilities cannot easily, or economically, remove these compounds.
Alternative: Check the operating instructions on your system. Most homeowners are using significantly more salt than necessary. Consider using Potassium Chloride instead of Sodium Chloride (more expensive but less harmful to grass and turf).

Refrain from pouring any paints, solvents, or other hazardous materials down the drain:

Effect: These materials can negatively impact aquatic life. Wastewater treatment facilities cannot easily, or economically, remove these compounds.
Alternative: Take these materials to the Summit County Hazardous Waste Receiving Station, located at 3-Mile Landfill near the Rockport Reservoir. Summit County now accepts all hazardous materials year-round at this site.