It’s Fun to Celebrate the C-W-A!

In 1972, the Clean Water Act (CWA) set into motion initiatives to improve water quality in U.S. waterways. Congress appropriated funds to build and upgrade wastewater infrastructure across the country, including millions of dollars to construct WLSSD’s wastewater collection system and treatment facilities.

WLSSD kicked off the 50th year of the Clean Water Act with staff, family and community at an open house on October 18th—50 years TO THE DAY of the passage of the CWA—to recognize water quality improvements and to highlight WLSSD’s efforts to restore and protect the St. Louis River!

The event serves as a reminder to celebrate clean water every day and take actions that keep our rivers and lakes swimmable and fishable!

1. Don’t rush to flush! WLSSD welcomes toilet paper and natural human byproducts. Anything else (like rags, paper towels, and “flushable” wipes) can clog pipes and damage equipment en route to WLSSD. Every time you decide to flush one of these items instead of throwing it in the trash, WLSSD staff have to pull it out and bring it to the landfill—YUCK!
2. Refrain from sending stain down the drain! Products like paints, stains, and motor oil are reused, recycled or safely disposed of at our Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility.
3. PFAS are Pfrustrating! PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroakyl substances) are human-made chemicals used to make things slippery. Non-stick cookware, rain- and stain-proof fabrics, food packaging, cosmetics and other common household items can contain PFAS. There is no way to remove these chemicals from wastewater, so upstream pollution prevention is our community’s best bet! When you use your consumer power to avoid purchasing PFAS-containing products, you’ll reduce your exposure and reduce the demand for their manufacture, keeping them out of the environment.
4. Heavy metals are meddlers! Did you know WLSSD works with dental practices to collect mercury-containing “silver” fillings so they don’t go into the sewer system? Every little bit adds up to keep mercury out of the water. You can do your part by bringing heavy metal-containing household items—like fluorescent bulbs, button and lithium batteries, and old fever thermometers, to the HHW Facility free of charge.