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As you trim the topiary and plant the petunias, remember the things you do on your lawn and in the garden can have a significant impact on the quality of area ponds, streams and rivers.

When rain falls on your property some of it will run off, going directly into a water body or entering the storm sewer system.  Stormwater does not receive any kind of water quality treatment, so it can carry weed killers, fertilizer, bacteria from pet waste, loose soil and many other pollutants.  But there are many things you can do in your own backyard to help protect stormwater quality.

Attend a public meeting to voice your opinion and learn how to help. Stay up-to-date via City Utilities calendar or sign up for e-news updates. 
 
Utilities staff has also prepared a set of pre-written articles that you may download for use in a neighborhood newsletter or other publication, or simply as a resource for yourself as a homeowner. If you use these in a publication, please give credit to Fort Wayne City Utilities as the source of the information contained in the articles. If you have questions or need more information please contact City Utilities as 427-1381.
 
Help Our Community
  • Reduce automobile use by car-pooling, riding the bus, riding your bike, or walking. 
  • Participate in local events such as neighborhood cleanups and Tox-Away Days.
  • Encourage others to reduce, reuse, and recycle whenever they can. Share what you know

Related imageMost pollution is caused by humans, and everyone is responsible for doing something about it. The City of Fort Wayne is a proud partner in the Clear Choices Clean Water program, an initiative that promotes making a few small changes around your home, business, and community to help make a positive difference in water quality.
 
The Clear Choices Clean Water website provides a variety of resources to help you learn more about water conservation, native plants and rain gardens, lawn fertilizers, and many more ways to protect water quality. The interactive website also features a pledge option that calculates the specific amount of pollution you've prevented and has a map feature that shows you who else in your  community is doing their part for water quality!

Participate in the City's Rain Gardens Program. Rain gardens are landscaping features, much like typical flowerbeds, that are strategically places and designed to capture stormwater running off of rooftops, driveways, parking lots, and other hard surfaces. They not only beautify the landscape, but they also help improve water quality at the same time.
 
Fort Wayne rain gardens incentive program

Many groups in and around Fort Wayne organize events where volunteers can pick-up trash, remove invasive species, help clear areas to improve views of the rivers and participate in other activities to improve the quality of our rivers, lakes and streams.

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