LIVING LIGHTLY ON THE AQUIFERWherever you live and work, you do so in a watershed that drains into a creek, river, and ultimately the ocean. We can all take steps to minimize our impact on our watersheds. Here are a few easy and simple things you can do:
Avoid chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides - use non-toxic products instead. For infomation on organic gardening and to find natural gardening products locally, try John Dromgoole's Natural Gardener.
Collect rainwater for lawn and garden irrigation and even for household use and drinking water. The City of Austin offers rebates on rainwater harvesting systems
Landscape with native plants that require minimal watering. For information on xeriscaping, see the City of Austin's Grow Green Program.
Properly dispose of used motor oil, batteries, paint, and other hazardous materials. Household hazardous waste (HHW) can be taken to the City of Austin HHW facility.
Clean up after your pets.
Ride a bike, walk, or take the bus to minimize car trips. You can plan trips with Capital Metro's Trip Planner.
Water your lawn or garden in the morning or evening to avoid the hottest parts of the day.