Clean water begins long before water reaches the kitchen faucet. Rivers, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, and groundwater are influenced by what happens on streets, lawns, farms, industrial sites, and properties throughout their watersheds.
Everyday household decisions can therefore play a role in protecting water quality.
Quick answer: Some of the most effective ways to help keep water clean are to keep pollutants out of storm drains, reduce fertilizer and pesticide runoff, dispose of household chemicals properly, pick up pet waste, prevent vehicle-fluid leaks, conserve water, protect vegetation, maintain septic systems, and learn where your drinking water comes from.
You do not have to live beside a river or lake to be affected by one. Rain and snowmelt can carry materials from roads, roofs, driveways, lawns, and parking lots into storm drains and eventually into local waterways.
In This Guide
Why Keeping Water Clean Matters
Water connects households, communities, ecosystems, agriculture, and industry.
Clean water supports:
- Drinking-water supplies
- Rivers, lakes, and wetlands
- Fish and wildlife
- Agriculture
- Swimming, fishing, and boating
- Businesses and local economies
The federal Clean Water Act created the primary national framework for regulating discharges of pollutants into waters of the United States and setting water-quality programs.
But protecting water does not happen only at treatment plants or government agencies.
Pollution can also originate from many small, dispersed sources across a watershed.
How Does Pollution Reach Rivers, Lakes, and Groundwater?
One important pathway is stormwater runoff.
In undeveloped areas, much of the rain that reaches the ground can soak into soil.
In developed areas, hard surfaces such as:
- Roads
- Parking lots
- Sidewalks
- Driveways
- Roofs
reduce infiltration and increase runoff.
As stormwater travels across these surfaces, it can pick up:
- Oil and grease
- Fertilizer
- Pesticides
- Pet waste
- Trash
- Sediment
- Vehicle fluids
- Road salt
Do not assume a storm drain leads to a wastewater treatment plant. In many communities, storm drains carry runoff toward local streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, or coastal waters without conventional sewage treatment.
Groundwater can also be affected by:
- Leaking underground storage tanks
- Failing septic systems
- Agricultural activity
- Industrial contamination
- Improper waste disposal
- Chemicals moving through soil
Protect Water at Home
1. Choose Household Products Carefully
Cleaning products eventually enter household wastewater systems, so use only as much as necessary and follow product instructions.
When choosing products, the EPA's Safer Choice label can help identify cleaners whose ingredients have been reviewed against the program's human health and environmental criteria.
Avoid assuming that a homemade cleaner is automatically safer simply because it uses familiar ingredients. Use the appropriate product for the surface and task.
2. Conserve Water
Using less water reduces demand on water supplies and lowers the volume that must be moved through sewer and wastewater treatment systems.
Useful actions include:
- Repair leaking faucets and toilets.
- Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth.
- Run full dishwasher and laundry loads.
- Use water-efficient appliances when replacement is needed.
- Install efficient showerheads and faucet aerators.
- Reduce unnecessarily long showers.
See our Water Conservation Guide and Shower Water Use Guide.
3. Keep Fats, Oils, and Grease Out of Drains
Cooking oil and grease can accumulate in household plumbing and sewer systems.
Instead:
- Allow cooking grease to cool.
- Collect it in an appropriate container.
- Follow local disposal or recycling guidance.
- Wipe greasy pans before washing them.
4. Use Toilets Only for Appropriate Waste
Do not use the toilet as a trash can.
Avoid flushing:
- Wipes
- Paper towels
- Dental floss
- Feminine hygiene products
- Diapers
- Cat litter
These materials can create problems in household plumbing, sewer systems, pumping equipment, and septic systems.
Protect Water in Your Yard and Garden
5. Reduce Runoff From Your Property
Whenever possible, help rainwater soak into the ground near where it falls.
Strategies can include:
- Rain gardens
- Mulched planting areas
- Native vegetation
- Permeable pavement
- Vegetated swales
- Directing downspouts toward suitable planted areas
Reducing runoff can help decrease pollution and, depending on local conditions, reduce stormwater volume.
6. Use Fertilizer Only When Needed
Excess nitrogen and phosphorus can wash off lawns into waterways, contributing to nutrient pollution.
Better practices include:
- Testing soil before fertilizing.
- Applying only the amount recommended.
- Keeping fertilizer off sidewalks and driveways.
- Avoiding application immediately before heavy rain.
- Choosing plants suited to your local soil and climate.
7. Use Pesticides and Herbicides Carefully
Follow label directions and use these products only where needed.
Avoid overspraying onto:
- Pavement
- Storm drains
- Ditches
- Streams
- Ponds
See our Pesticides and Water Quality Guide.
8. Compost Leaves and Yard Waste
Do not sweep grass clippings, leaves, or other yard waste into streets or storm drains.
Instead:
- Compost suitable organic material.
- Use municipal yard-waste programs.
- Use leaves as mulch where appropriate.
- Keep piles away from storm drains before rain.
9. Protect Streamside Vegetation
Plants near streams, ponds, and wetlands can slow runoff, stabilize soil, trap sediment, and provide habitat.
If your property borders water, preserving an appropriate vegetated buffer can be more beneficial than maintaining bare soil or closely cut turf to the water's edge.
Keep Pollution Out of Storm Drains
10. Pick Up After Pets
Pet waste left outdoors can be carried into waterways by rain.
It contributes:
- Nitrogen
- Phosphorus
- Microorganisms
- Other unwanted material
Bag pet waste and dispose of it according to local guidance.
11. Prevent Vehicle-Fluid Leaks
Motor oil, transmission fluid, coolant, and other automotive fluids can wash from pavement into storm drains.
If your vehicle is leaking:
- Repair the leak promptly.
- Use a drip pan temporarily where appropriate.
- Absorb spills rather than hosing them into the street.
- Recycle used oil at an approved location.
12. Keep Litter Out of Streets and Gutters
Trash does not have to be dropped directly into a river to reach one.
Wind and stormwater can move:
- Plastic packaging
- Bottles
- Cigarette butts
- Fishing line
- Food containers
from streets into drainage systems and waterways.
Dispose of Chemicals and Waste Properly
13. Use Household Hazardous-Waste Programs
Do not pour products such as these into drains, storm drains, or onto the ground:
- Paint
- Solvents
- Pesticides
- Motor oil
- Antifreeze
- Pool chemicals
Use your local household hazardous waste collection program or an approved recycling facility.
14. Dispose of Medicines Responsibly
Do not automatically flush unused medications.
Drug take-back locations or programs are generally the preferred option when available. Follow current disposal instructions for the specific medication.
15. Report Serious Dumping or Spills
If you observe oil, chemicals, sewage, or other suspicious material being dumped into a storm drain or waterway, report it to the appropriate local environmental, stormwater, utility, or emergency authority.
Prompt reporting may help contain pollution before it spreads farther downstream.
Protect Lakes, Rivers, Wetlands, and Aquatic Ecosystems
16. Protect Wetlands and Natural Drainage Areas
Wetlands can:
- Store water
- Slow runoff
- Trap sediment
- Support wildlife
- Reduce some flood impacts
If your property contains or borders a wetland or stream, review applicable local, state, and federal requirements before draining, filling, grading, or altering the area.
17. Clean, Drain, and Dry Boats and Gear
Aquatic invasive species can travel between waterways on:
- Boat hulls
- Trailers
- Anchors
- Fishing equipment
- Live wells
- Other recreational gear
Before moving equipment to another body of water:
- Inspect it.
- Remove visible plants and animals.
- Drain contained water.
- Clean the equipment appropriately.
- Allow it to dry when possible.
Help Protect Water in Your Community
18. Join a Local Cleanup
River, beach, park, and neighborhood cleanups can remove trash before it enters larger waterways.
They can also help people understand how litter and runoff move through a watershed.
19. Support Better Stormwater and Land-Use Planning
Local planning affects water quality because roads, development, parking areas, landscaping, and drainage systems change how water moves across the landscape.
Useful community strategies can include:
- Rain gardens
- Bioswales
- Permeable pavement
- Tree canopy
- Wetland protection
- Stream restoration
- Stormwater detention and retention
20. Learn About and Monitor Your Own Drinking Water
Protecting water at the watershed level is important, but households should also understand the water that reaches their own faucets.
If You Use Public Water
Review your water utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
It can provide information about:
- Your water source
- Detected contaminants
- Applicable drinking-water standards
- Utility contact information
EPA continues to recommend Consumer Confidence Reports as a starting point for understanding public drinking-water quality. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
If You Use a Private Well
Private wells are generally not regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act in the same way as public water systems, so owners are responsible for monitoring their water. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Testing should reflect:
- Local geology
- Nearby land use
- Well condition
- State or local recommendations
- Changes in taste, odor, color, or water conditions
See our Well Water Testing & Treatment Guide.
Where Does Home Water Filtration Fit?
Source-water protection and household filtration address different parts of water quality.
Source-water protection helps prevent contamination from reaching rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater in the first place.
Home filtration treats water at or near the point where the household uses it.
The two approaches complement each other. A home filter should not be viewed as a substitute for protecting watersheds, maintaining public infrastructure, or following local drinking-water guidance.
For households that want point-of-use drinking water filtration without permanent plumbing installation, Berkey® gravity-fed water filter systems are a countertop option.
The more important consideration for contaminant reduction is the filter element installed in the system.
When evaluating any drinking-water filter:
- Identify the contaminant or water-quality concern first.
- Review testing or certification for that specific substance.
- Check rated capacity and replacement requirements.
- Follow installation and maintenance instructions.
See our Water Filter Test Results and Berkey® Replacement Filters Guide.
I would not keep the old five-product shopping list in this article. This page's primary purpose is environmental and water-quality education. A single contextual link to the Berkey comparison guide and filter test results is enough to create a commercial path without making the article feel like an advertisement.
Frequently Asked Questions About Keeping Water Clean
What is the easiest way to help prevent water pollution at home?
Keep household chemicals, motor oil, litter, pet waste, fertilizers, pesticides, and yard waste out of streets and storm drains, and dispose of waste through appropriate local programs.
Do storm drains lead to wastewater treatment plants?
Often they do not. In many communities, stormwater systems discharge to streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, or coastal waters, separate from sanitary wastewater treatment.
Why is stormwater runoff a problem?
Runoff can pick up sediment, fertilizer, pet waste, oil, pesticides, trash, and other pollutants as it flows across streets, roofs, lawns, and parking areas.
How can I reduce runoff from my property?
Rain gardens, permeable surfaces, native vegetation, mulch, planted drainage areas, and appropriately directed downspouts can help water soak into the landscape rather than run off rapidly.
Does picking up pet waste really help water quality?
Yes. Pet waste can contribute nutrients and microorganisms to stormwater when rain carries it into drainage systems and waterways.
Can I pour motor oil into a storm drain?
No. Used oil and automotive fluids should be collected and recycled or disposed of through approved local programs.
Should I sweep grass clippings into the street?
No. Yard waste can enter storm drains, contributing organic material and nutrients to waterways. Compost or use a local yard-waste program instead.
Do fertilizers pollute water?
Excess fertilizer can wash into waterways, contributing nitrogen and phosphorus that can promote excessive algae growth and other nutrient pollution problems.
Are natural cleaning products always better for water quality?
No. “Natural” does not automatically mean safer or more effective. Use products appropriately and consider recognized programs, such as the EPA Safer Choice, when comparing cleaning products.
What is the EPA Safer Choice label?
Safer Choice is an EPA program that evaluates ingredients and other product criteria to identify cleaning and related products formulated with safer chemical ingredients.
Why are wetlands important for clean water?
Wetlands can store water, slow runoff, trap sediment, support ecosystems, and help reduce some flood impacts.
How can boats spread invasive species?
Aquatic organisms can attach to hulls, trailers, anchors, fishing equipment, or travel in live wells and other retained water. Cleaning, draining, and drying equipment can reduce the risk of transport between waterways.
How do I find out where my drinking water comes from?
If you receive public water, your Consumer Confidence Report normally identifies the source or provides information about it. Private well owners can consult local health or environmental agencies and their well records.
Should private-well water be tested?
Yes. Private-well owners are responsible for monitoring their own water, and testing recommendations depend on local geology, land use, well condition, and state or local guidance.
Does home filtration protect rivers and groundwater?
No. Home filtration treats water used by the household. Watershed and source-water protection address contamination before it reaches drinking-water sources. Both can be useful, but they serve different purposes.
Final Thoughts
Protecting clean water does not depend on one dramatic action.
It comes from thousands of everyday decisions about:
- What enters storm drains
- How chemicals are stored and discarded
- How lawns and gardens are managed
- How much water households use
- How communities design development and drainage
- How rivers, wetlands, and groundwater are protected
The most useful principle is simple:
Keep pollution out of water whenever possible. Preventing contaminants from reaching a river, lake, groundwater source, or storm drain is generally preferable to trying to remove them later.
Learning where your own water comes from—and where rainwater from your property goes—is an excellent place to start.