Every time we water the lawn, wash the car - or even walk the dog - Washtenaw County residents have an  impact on this area’s life giving water systems. Now, you and your family can be part of a program from the office of the Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner that will protect Washtenaw County waterways: the RiverSafe Homes Program.

Your family could make your home a RiverSafe home. It’s easy to do. “By completing a user friendly online survey, residents can pledge to make their homes RiverSafe homes when they join us,” says Drain Commissioner Janis Bobrin. Taking the survey allows any resident to identify water quality protection activities you might already do around the house, and the program helps you commit to other pollution prevention practices you might not have considered before.

The RiverSafe Homes brochure gives all the information needed to get acquainted with the topics covered in the survey:

• Home Toxics Disposal
• Yard Care and Outdoor Housekeeping
• Car and Vehicle Care
• Pet and Urban Wildlife Waste
  

In return for taking the survey and making a commitment to water quality protection, participants receive a RiverSafe Homes marker to display at your home. You can choose from two marker styles once you complete the survey. “When that RiverSafe decal is placed at the front door or other visible location, it will let visitors know that you’re making a difference for water quality,” added Bobrin.

Read the Brochure & take the RiverSafe Survey Now!

Participants may also choose to be added to an e-mail list to receive periodic environmental tips and information. With more than 138,000 households in Washtenaw County, the RiverSafe Homes Program should have a great “cumulative effect” opportunity to reduce pollutants in all of Washtenaw County waterways.
 
For more information about RiverSafe Homes, to obtain a hard copy of the RiverSafe brochure and survey if you don’t have internet access, or to request other water quality information, contact Michelle Bononi, Senior Environmental Planner at the Drain Commissioner’s Office or call (734) 222-6833.