Jean Schotl, Minden Township supervisor
Every summer in Minnesota, we hear about children and dogs getting sick from ingesting water polluted with toxic urban and agricultural runoff. It’s a frustrating reminder of the fragility of our water supplies and the importance of taking every step to protect our families.
One way to keep our water safe for drinking, fishing and swimming is by protecting its source. The new Clean Water Rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers now reinstates Clean Water Act protections for the sources of drinking water for one in every five Minnesota residents.
Just a reminder to plant or keep buffer zones around ponds, wetlands, lakes and streams. Undisturbed (unmowed) vegetation along streams and drainage pathways will capture nutrients that wash off your lawn or driveways before they are discharged to the waterways. Also, remember it’s “Only Rain Down The Storm Drain” by cleaning away grass clippings, leaves, litter and debris from the storm sewer grates, so we and our families can enjoy clean water for many, many years.