Protecting Maine’s greatest resource: Clean water

By Aubrey Strause, 2014 President of the Maine Water Association

Relaxing on a sandy beach. Savoring the perfect lobster roll. Racing a sibling across a pond in your kayaks. A tall glass of water, straight from the tap, on a hot day. Taking a sunset cruise on a classic windjammer. If you’ve enjoyed any of these, then you have appreciated one of Maine’s most impor­tant resources: its clean water!

Maine does have clean water, and it has lots of it. But Maine’s water relies on a lot of people – includ­ing you – to stay that way.

There are many ways we can all help protect Maine’s water resources. These include limiting development around water bodies, siting septic systems properly, and preventing erosion through good construction practices. It also includes con­stantly looking for ways to reduce personal water use – simple things like turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth, fixing leaking or dripping plumbing, collecting rainwater in barrels for garden­ing, and designing landscaping to require minimal irrigation.

Demonstrating respect for water – and the effort involved in treating it – is another way to improve water quality. Maine’s wastewater treatment facilities (or your home’s septic system) do a great job, but they aren’t designed to treat pharmaceuti­cals. So instead of flushing un­used medications, take them to one of the frequent take-back programs (or your police depart­ment). Don’t treat your toilet like a trash can: chemi­cals, cooking grease, trash, wipes (even “flushable” ones), floss, paper towels, and feminine hygiene products should go into a trash can. Follow the instructions on your lawn fertilizer. Applying more won’t result in a better lawn, but it can cause harm­ful algal blooms in water bodies. Wash your car on your lawn so suds don’t get into the stormwater system. Putting your dog’s waste into a trash can helps keep bacteria off beaches. There are so many ways you can help!

Maine has great water, but it takes hard work and lots of dedicated people to keep it that way. Please join us in protecting Maine’s water resources!

Aubrey Strause is the 2014 president of the Maine Water Environment Association, a non-profit organization of more than 600 operators, scientists, technicians, environmentalists, regulators, engineers, and equipment manufacturers who manage and treat wastewater and stormwater. Learn more at www.mewea.org.