Spring Into Action to Help Protect The Saginaw Bay!

It’s spring and as thoughts turn to outdoor activities, it’s a great time to consider ways that each of us can help protect the water quality in Saginaw Bay.

The city of Bay City and Saginaw have finished construction of large underground Retention Treatment Basins (RTB) that provide primary and secondary treatment to sewage overspills to ensure that untreated sewage overflows into the Saginaw River are finally a thing of the past.  Now it's up to all of us to continue the good fight and do our part to help protect the Saginaw Bay.  Consider doing your part by . . . 

• Having Your Septic Tank Pumped
  Routine septic tank maintenance will help to ensure that your system is working property.  You can check out the following publications for further information:

EPA's A Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems (EPA-832-B-02-005 December 2002)

A Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems (Bureau of Nonpoint Pollution Control)

Pipeline:  Maintaining Your Septic System - A Guide for Homeowners (Fall 1995)

• Installing A Rain Barrel At Your Home 
  A rain barrel collects and stores rainwater from rooftops so that it can be used for watering plants and gardens. Water collected in a rain barrel would normally pour off your roof directly or flow through roof gutter downspouts and become stormwater runoff. Depending on your yard, this runoff can travel onto paved surfaces and eventually into a storm drain. 
  
  

  Why Use Rain Barrels?

  Rain barrels conserve water and help lower costs (a rain barrel can save approximately 1,300 gallons of water during peak summer months).

  Rain barrels reduce water pollution by reducing stormwater runoff, which can contain pollutants like sediment, oil, grease, bacteria and nutrients.

  Rain barrels are inexpensive and easy to install.

  Rain barrels are available at most major local retailers and garden supply stores.  For more information about rain barrel, please check out the following:
  

  Bangor Township Green Team
  
  How To Install and Maintain A Rain Barrel
  
  Joel the Urban Gardener:  Installing A Rain Barrel
  

• Picking Up Your Dog Waste
  Did you know that dog poop is the #3 cause of water pollution?  Stormwater carries pet waste and other pollutants directly into waterways.  Animal waste adds nitrogen to the water and excess nitrogen depletes the oxygen in water necessary for beneficial underwater grasses, wildlife and fish.

5 Important Reasons to Clean Up Pet Waste (by Dr. Foster & Smith Veterinary Staff)

4 Ways To Pick Up Dog Poop 

The Shocking Truth About Not Picking Up Your Dog's Poop

Great Lakes Bay Poop 911
Provides dog, cat and other pet poop cleaning services to Auburn, Bay City, Bentley, Essexville, Kawkawlin, Linwood, Munger, Pinconning, Rhodes, University Center

• Don’t Flush Your Drugs!
  Whether you are connected to the city sewer or have a septic system, drugs should never be flushed down the sink or toilet. Medication cannot be cleaned up like sewage, so drugs can end up in the bay affecting fish and wildlife. Look for the Yellow Jug Old Drug  program at your locally owned neighborhood pharmacy. 

While the Saginaw Bay is cleaner today than it has been in years, we still have a long way to go, and we all need to do our part to reduce pollution. 

This message brought to you by the volunteers of the Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative