Clean water is essential for communities but is increasingly threatened. NRDC is working to address the water crisis by promoting water efficiency, protecting water from pollution through defending the Clean Water Act, helping communities prepare for climate change impacts, and ensuring sufficient water for ecosystems. Key strategies include adopting water-efficient standards, supporting utility investments in conservation, improving pricing structures, drawing on the Clean Water Act to protect waterways, and establishing new pollution limits.

1. Water
Clean and plentiful water provides the foundation for prosperous communities. We rely on clean
water to survive, yet right now we are heading towards a water crisis. Changing climate patterns are
threatening lakes and rivers, and key sources that we tap for drinking water are being overdrawn or
tainted with pollution. NRDC experts are helping to secure safe and sufficient water for people and
the environment by:
Promoting water efficiency strategies to help decrease the amount of water wasted;
Protecting our water from pollution by defending the Clean Water Act and advocating for solutions
like green infrastructure;
Helping prepare cities, counties and states for water-related challenges they will face as a result of
climate change; and
Ensuring that waterways have enough water to support vibrant aquatic ecosystems.
Promoting Water Efficiency
Despite the many existing pressures on our water resources, there are cost-effective solutions that
will allow us to transform our relationship with water. To address increasing water scarcity in many
places in the nation, NRDC is working to promote investments and policies that increase water use
efficiency and decrease water waste, such as:
Adopting sensible standards for efficient appliances, buildings, and irrigation;
Supporting cost-effective investments by utilities to help customers save water; and
Improving pricing structures to save both water and money.
» How stormwater runoff solutions can improve efficiency and water quality
» Find out how changes in wastewater pricing could save you water and money
» Learn more about our energy and water efficiency work in California
Protecting Clean Water
Dirty water is the world's biggest health risk, and continues to threaten both quality of life and
public health in the United States. When water from rain and melting snow runs off roofs and roads
into our rivers, it picks up toxic chemicals, dirt, trash and disease-carrying organisms along the way.
Many of our water resources also lack basic protections, making them vulnerable to pollution from
factory farms, industrial plants, and activities like fracking. This can lead to drinking water
contamination, habitat degradation and beach closures. NRDC is working to protect our water from
pollution by:
Drawing on existing protections in the Clean Water Act, and working to ensure that the law's
pollution control programs apply to all important waterways, including headwater streams and
wetlands, which provide drinking water for 117 million Americans;
Improving protections to reduce pollutants like bacteria and viruses, which threaten Americans'
health and well being; and
Establishing new pollution limits for top problem areas, such as sources of runoff and sewage
overflows.
» 12 simple things you can do to reduce water pollution
Water and Climate Change

2. From more severe and frequent droughts to unprecedented flooding, many of the most profound and
immediate impacts of climate change will relate to water. More than one-third of all counties in the
lower 48 states will face higher risks of water shortages by mid-century as a result of global
warming. Other impacts will include sea level rise, saltwater intrusion, harm to fisheries and more
frequent and intense storm events. To help communities prepare, NRDC is creating tools that help
the public and government officials to better understand and anticipate the water-related impacts of
climate change at a state, county, and city level. We also promote ways to reduce wasted energy
resulting from inefficient water collection, treatment and distribution.
» Is your state ready for the water impacts of climate change?
» Find out how cities can prepare for water shortages, flooding, and other impacts
» Learn more about climate change and water solutions
Preserving Water Ecosystems
Fish, birds and wildlife depend on clean water, just as people do. NRDC works to protect and
restore important waterways to ensure that there is enough water flowing to keep these ecosystems
intact and functioning. In the San Francisco Bay-Delta -- the largest estuary on the west coast -- we
are stopping unsustainable water withdrawals that threaten endangered fish species and their habitat
through a range of litigation tools. We are also continuing to restore water flows to California's
second largest river, the San Joaquin River. Through implementation of the historic San Joaquin
River Restoration Settlement, an agreement won after 18 years of litigation brought by a coalition
of conservation and fishing groups, and led by NRDC, the settlement will restore water flows and
reintroduce salmon to the San Joaquin
How to Clean Up Our Water
Ten Simple Ways You Can Help Reduce Pollution and Runoff
Everyday household activities contribute to water pollution. When it rains, fertilizer from lawns, oil
from driveways, paint and solvent residues from walls and decks and even pet waste are all washed
into storm sewers or nearby lakes, rivers and streams -- the same lakes, rivers and streams we rely
on for drinking water supply, boating, swimming and fishing. Also, improper handling of materials
around the house can lead to pollution. Here are some ways you can help reduce your impact on
waterways.
In Your Yard
1. Decrease impervious surfaces around your home. Having fewer hard surfaces of concrete and
asphalt will reduce runoff from your property. Landscape with vegetation, gravel or other porous
materials instead of cement; install wood decking instead of concrete, and interlocking bricks and
paver stones for walkways. Redirect rain gutters and downspouts away from buildings and to rain
barrels and gardens, soil, grass or gravel areas. Planting vegetation at lower elevations than nearby
hard surfaces allows runoff to seep into soil.
2. Use native plants and natural fertilizers. Native plants need less water, are more tolerant of
drought conditions, cost less to maintain and provide habitat for birds and butterflies. Apply natural
fertilizers and soil conditioners, such as compost, peat, rotted manure, and bone meal to stimulate
plant growth and retain soil moisture. You can create your own compost; compost bins are widely
available for purchase, or you can make your own. Composting decreases the need for chemical

3. fertilizers, helps soil retain moisture, and diverts waste from landfills. If you don't know how to
compost, visit The Compost Resource Page or the EPA's composting pages.
3. Don't over-water lawns and gardens. According to the EPA, "nationwide, landscape irrigation is
estimated to account for almost one-third of all residential water use, totaling more than 7 billion
gallons per day." Most obviously, limit irrigation to vegetated areas -– prevent overspray onto
sidewalks, driveways, and street curbing. Avoid sprinkler irrigation on steep slopes and narrow
strips that cannot be watered efficiently. Know how much water your lawn is getting by using a rain
gauge to track precipitation and match the amount of water you apply to the actual needs of your
variety of turf. For non-turf areas, use slow-watering techniques, i.e. trickle or "drip" irrigation
systems and soaker hoses, which are 20 percent more efficient than sprinklers. Over-watering lawns
not only wastes water, but can also increase the leaching of fertilizers into groundwater. Watering
before the sun comes up, or after it sets, will also decrease the amount of water lost to evaporation.
In Your Home
4. Recycle and dispose of all trash properly. Never flush non-degradable products -- such as
disposable diapers or plastic tampon applicators -- down the toilet. They can damage the sewage
treatment process and end up littering beaches and waters. And make sure to properly dispose of all
pet waste from your property to keep it out of storm drains and water supplies.
5. Correctly dispose of hazardous household products. Keep paints, used oil, cleaning solvents,
polishes, pool chemicals, insecticides, and other hazardous household chemicals out of drains,
sinks, and toilets. Many of these products contain harmful substances -- such as sodium
hypochlorite, petroleum distillates, phenol and cresol, ammonia and formaldehyde -- that can end
up in nearby water bodies. Contact your local sanitation, public works, or environmental health
department to find out about hazardous waste collection days and sites, or check Earth911.com for
local recycling options. If a local program isn't available, request one. Additionally, incorrect
disposal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products leads to the presence of pharmaceutical
residues in our waterways and, ultimately, our drinking water. To keep pharmaceuticals and
personal care products out of waterways, never flush them down the toilet. The best way to dispose
of these items is through "take-back" programs where drugs are returned to a facility that can
dispose of them properly. Contact your local health officials or household hazardous waste facility
to find out what options exist in your region.
6. Use nontoxic household products whenever possible. Discarding harmful products correctly is
important, but not buying them in the first place is even better. Ask local stores to carry nontoxic
products if they don't already. For examples of safe substitutes for environmentally harmful
household products, check EPA's Greener Products website.
Maintaining Your Car
7. Recycle used motor oil. Don’t pour waste oil into gutters or down storm drains, and resist the
temptation to dump wastes onto the ground. A single quart of motor oil that seeps into groundwater
can pollute 250,000 gallons of drinking water. If you don't have a place to recycle used motor oil in
your community, ask your local sanitation or public works department to create one. Check
Earth911.com for local recycling options. When you buy motor oil, ask if the store or service
station has a program to buy back waste oil and dispose of it properly. Keep up with car
maintenance to reduce leaking of oil, coolant, antifreeze and other hazardous fluids.

4. 8. Be "green" when washing your car. Skip the home carwash. Take your car to a professional –-
professional carwashes are required to drain their wastewater into sewer systems, where it is treated
before being discharged. This spares your local rivers and bays from the brake fluid, oil and
automotive fluids that could otherwise contaminate your water. Many carwashes also recycle their
wastewater, and use less than half the amount of water of a home carwash. Ask around to find a
carwash that practices wastewater recycling. Alternatively, you can "wash" your car at home using
a waterless carwash product.
In Your Community
9. Help identify, report and stop polluters. Join a local clean water or environmental group that
monitors industries and sewage treatment plants that are discharging wastes. Local groups can be
effective working together with state environmental agencies, EPA and national groups like NRDC
to ensure that industries comply with regulations. To find a local clean water organization in your
area, contact the Clean Water Network or Waterkeeper Alliance.
10. Be an activist. Educate yourself about water issues in your community. Find out where and how
decisions are made about investments in projects and programs to protect your water and the rates
and charges you pay for water and wastewater service. Contact your public officials and attend
hearings to encourage them to support laws and programs to protect our water. Ask officials to
control polluted runoff, ensure protection for wetlands and other aquatic ecosystems, reduce the
flow of toxics into our waterways, and strengthen enforcement. Volunteer for a beach or stream
clean up, tree planting, water quality sampling, or stream pollution monitoring project sponsored by
a local environmental group or watershed council. Visit NRDC's Action Center to learn about
urgent issues you can get in involved in.
Advanced Ways to Clean Up Our Water
Three ambitious projects to reduce the flow of polluted runoff.
Runoff from lawns, sidewalks, roads and driveways is a major contributor to surface water
pollution. By making some simple changes to your everyday activities, you can reduce the flow of
runoff. But if you're willing to commit a bit more time and money, you can take an even bigger dent
out of the runoff problem. Here are three advanced suggestions.
Install A Water Storage Cistern
Cisterns collect rainwater from rooftops, driveways and patios before it becomes runoff. The cistern
itself is a storage tank that is part of a larger rainwater collection system. A pump and a system of
pipes deliver the water from the tank to a faucet or sprinkler for household uses other than drinking
water. Cisterns reduce runoff, but they have the added benefit of lowering household water
consumption. They can also come in handy as an extra water source during dry periods, when water
from your local utility might be rationed and watering lawns, washing cars or filling pools might be
prohibited. Most cisterns are below ground, but they can also be placed above ground. Residential
cisterns come in sizes that range from 100 to 1,400 gallons.
Plant A Rain Garden
Bioretention areas, also known as rain gardens, are low-lying areas of soil and vegetation that are
constructed in yards or gardens to channel and collect polluted runoff. When runoff flows from
downspouts and off driveways and patios, the plants in the garden block the water flow, slowing it
and allowing it to filter into the ground, rather than washing quickly over the surface and carrying
pollutants to street gutters and storm drains. Rain garden plants and soil also filter pollutants from
water that passes through them. The typical rain garden is composed of trees, shrubs and grasses

5. planted in a medium that includes layers of gravel, sand and soil. Local soil types, native plant
species, site conditions and nearby land uses influence rain garden design.
Install A Vegetated Roof
Installing a vegetated roof, or green roof, may sound extreme, but it's a proven way to curtail
polluted runoff in congested urban areas. These systems use plants in a lightweight soil mixture to
absorb and slow runoff that would otherwise pour from rooftops. They typically consist of three
layers: subsurface drainage, soil and plants. The vegetated roof mimics vegetation's natural ability
to capture and hold precipitation. For small amounts of rain, little runoff occurs. During heavier
storms, the roofs reduce runoff volume. The systems conserve energy in winter by insulating
rooftops. They also protect the underlying roof from the elements, extending its life by several
years. Vegetated roofs are especially effective on extensive roofs in urban areas, where space for
other stormwater runoff controls is limited. If you'd like to explore this idea, we suggest you consult
an expert. You'll need the experience of someone who is familiar with such systems to tackle
considerations such as the load-bearing capacity of your roof and the design of the system itself.

6. planted in a medium that includes layers of gravel, sand and soil. Local soil types, native plant
species, site conditions and nearby land uses influence rain garden design.
Install A Vegetated Roof
Installing a vegetated roof, or green roof, may sound extreme, but it's a proven way to curtail
polluted runoff in congested urban areas. These systems use plants in a lightweight soil mixture to
absorb and slow runoff that would otherwise pour from rooftops. They typically consist of three
layers: subsurface drainage, soil and plants. The vegetated roof mimics vegetation's natural ability
to capture and hold precipitation. For small amounts of rain, little runoff occurs. During heavier
storms, the roofs reduce runoff volume. The systems conserve energy in winter by insulating
rooftops. They also protect the underlying roof from the elements, extending its life by several
years. Vegetated roofs are especially effective on extensive roofs in urban areas, where space for
other stormwater runoff controls is limited. If you'd like to explore this idea, we suggest you consult
an expert. You'll need the experience of someone who is familiar with such systems to tackle
considerations such as the load-bearing capacity of your roof and the design of the system itself.