We live in a time of evolving challenges. Science and technologies offer new solutions to old problems. Climate change poses new problems to be addressed. And competing priorities raise new questions about how, why and to what extent we should protect our water resources.

Everyone with a stake in clean, abundant water should be a part of the discussion. This may mean engaging your neighbors, city staff and policymakers at local, state and federal levels. It may mean volunteering for an Earth Day cleanup, planting a tree or changing how you care for your lawn. It may mean writing a letter or an email to your elected representatives.

In any case, don’t be silent. Tell your community, tell us. Share your priorities for clean water.

—Doug Snyder, MWMO Executive Director

To some, fixing a worn-out parking lot might not seem an obvious way to strike a blow for environmental justice. But Children’s Dental Services is an organization that thinks big. So when it came time to tear up the pavement at their newest clinic, the nonprofit dental care provider went above and beyond. Learn how CDS and their project team replaced an asphalt parking lot with an eye-catching, stormwater-absorbing permeable paver system. Read more...

Trees are the unsung heroes of urban life. It’s hard to overstate their benefits: They filter pollution out of the air, lower our energy bills, undercut the misery of summer heat, raise property values, reduce mental stress and generally enrich our lives in a variety of ways that are both surprising and well-documented. But trees provide another important benefit that is often overlooked: They play a hugely important role in protecting our water quality. Read more…

If you visit the Columbia Heights Public Library after a snowfall, you might notice that the sidewalk between the parking lot and the entrance is clean, dry and safe, without any evidence of salt or deicer being used. That’s because below the concrete slabs are coils filled with antifreeze that heat the sidewalk and prevent ice from forming. No salt or sand required — and no shoveling! Read more...

Much of the pollution that enters our waters comes directly from our front yards, according to a new University of Minnesota study. You can help reduce this pollution by practicing smarter lawn care. You can also install raingardens, rainbarrels and native plants to help manage runoff at home. Finally, as you head outside to do your spring chores, check out our list of spring cleaning tips that will help keep your yard — and our waters — healthy this year!