Water Quality Awareness Month: Tips for Keeping Streams Clean
The health of our local streams, ponds and lakes is affected (and not in a good way) when trash and pollutants like fertilizer and pet waste end up in our waterways. This can happen through stormwater runoff and flooding, and it can affect residents and their pets as well as the local ecosystem.
August is Water Quality Awareness Month, a month devoted to protecting our precious natural resource: water. The Johnson County Stormwater Management Program shares five ways you can help protect this natural resource by keeping our streams clean.
1. Learn the Signs
Learn how to identify possible pollution in your streams to help catch pollution early on. You can identify pollution in streams or ponds through the following signs:
- Trash
- Soap-like suds or foam
- Contrasting streaks of colors in the water like whites, browns or reds
- Excessive algae
- A foul odor
If you spot a possible sign of pollution in a county stream, alert your city or county’s environmental services department as soon as possible.
2. Properly Dispose of Waste
Never dump trash, pet waste or chemicals down storm drains – and make sure these pollutants don’t accidentally run off there. Common sources of stormwater pollution include:
- Automotive fluids
- Litter, including cigarette butts
- Fertilizer and weed killer from yards
- Grass clippings, leaves and other yard waste
- Pet waste
- Soap, paint, cleaning supplies and other household chemicals
- Sediment from exposed ground
Chemicals such as lawn fertilizers, paint, soap and motor oil should be disposed through your city or county’s designated programs, such as the county’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility (drop-off by appointment only).
3. Participate in Community Clean-Up
Streams are important to the health of residents and our pets. By participating in local clean-up initiatives, you can create immediate, positive change in your community. Bridging the Gap offers volunteer opportunities, including litter cleanup, throughout the year.
“Plogging” – a Swedish term for picking up trash while jogging – is a fun and active way to participate in cleanup. Every October, the county and several cities participate in the Kansas City Plogtober competition. But you can “plog” with your family, friends or neighbors any time of the year.
4. Plant Native Vegetation
Help us “contain the rain!” The Johnson County Stormwater Management Program’s Contain the Rain program encourages residents to install landscape solutions to collect stormwater, preventing runoff into our streams.
These projects include planting native trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers, which help filter pollutants, reduce erosion and support pollinators – all things that improve our local ecosystem. Contain the Rain reimburses applicants up to 50% of eligible expenses for these projects.
Looking for a native plant to add to your garden? View Johnson County’s list of approved native trees and plants.
5. Install a Rain Barrel or Cistern
The Contain the Rain program also covers projects like rain barrels and cisterns, which collect stormwater you can use to water your lawn and garden – preventing runoff in the process.
Rain barrels are simple and inexpensive to construct using supplies you can find at your local hardware store. The standard is a 55-gallon plastic barrel, but there are a wide variety of options.
The 2025 Contain the Rain program ends Nov. 1, but it’s never too early to start thinking about a native vegetation or rain barrel project for next year – the program reopens spring 2026. Learn more about Contain the Rain at containtherainjoco.com.