Water is our most precious natural resource—without it, all life would perish. Water is also incredibly fragile and vulnerable to many threats, from various sources of pollution to climate change. Water’s complex character has inspired artists, ignited political wars, and influenced the growth of cities. Access to water ranges from a simple twist of a spigot for some people to the time-consuming process of hauling buckets of water for others. We invite you to examine your relationship with water. Every drop counts.
Do You Know Where Your Drinking Water Comes From?
The water we drink in our homes and workplaces comes from a variety of sources depending on where you live.
Is It Safe To Swim In Local Lakes And Streams?
Pollutants run into our streams and lakes, causing the growth of algae and bacteria that makes swimming unsafe for people and their pets.
What Is Green Infrastructure And Why Do We Need It?
When rain falls on our roofs, streets, and parking lots, the subsequent water cannot soak into the ground and becomes stormwater runoff.
What Is A Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land that drains into a particular body of water, such as a stream, river, pond, or lake.
How Does Rain Cause Pollution?
When it rains, water is absorbed into the ground and recharges the aquifer. New Jersey, as the most densely developed state in the nation, has more paved surfaces that inhibit this absorption.
Green Infrastructure: Rain Gardens
Rain gardens are an important type of water capture feature in landscaping that helps slow and absorb runoff from storms.
How Do Trees Benefit Us?
Trees offer so many benefits to us, including shade, habitat and beauty. Trees also absorb excess polluted stormwater.
How Is Climate Change Affecting Water?
Around the globe, the warming atmosphere, land and oceans are causing fundamental changes to the water cycle and weather patterns.
What Can I Do To Protect Water?
You can help protect water from pollution and mitigate the effects of Climate Change by developing new habits and implementing what we call “River-Friendly” practices for your home, garden, and yard.
Is Flooding On The Rise?
Hard surfaces like asphalt, concrete, and rooftops mean there is less room for rainfall and snowmelt to soak into the ground.
What Lives In Our Waterways?
Our waterways are teeming with life—mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians and many smaller creatures.
Will We Have Enough Water?
When there isn’t enough water, our streams, rivers and lakes dry up. This means all the critters who live in the water, as well as wildlife who drink from those streams, are harmed.
How Does Plastic Pollution Harm Water?
Plastic – which takes decades or even hundreds of years to decompose – poses a threat to our water supplies and water quality in a variety of ways.
70 Things You Can Do About Climate Change
Small actions add up to big impacts. We can all have a more positive impact on our environment from our homes and places of work – which is why we made a list of 70 things we can all do about climate change.
Green Infrastructure - Rain Barrels
While the rainfall is plentiful in the spring months, during the summer and fall we’ll be eager for additional water for our vegetable and flower gardens.