Pierce County is participating in Puget Sound Starts Here, an effort to help people reduce their contributions to pollution.

The program focuses on how people can make a difference every day. Improvements in these areas can produce improvements in water quality, and ultimately, in the health of Puget Sound and regional water supplies, according to the county.

“This unprecedented regional effort will help residents and businesses understand how everyday activities are contributing to the decline of Puget Sound,” stated Pierce County Public Works and Utilities Director Brian Ziegler. “Everyone who lives in Pierce County can do things that will make our waters safer and cleaner.”

Using compost as lawn fertilizer, taking a car to a commercial car wash and throwing pet waste out with the garbage keeps local waters cleaner. When it rains, garden chemicals, spilled automotive fluids, and bacteria from pet waste are washed into storm drains. The storm drains do not lead to treatment plants, but discharge directly into waters such as lakes, rivers, streams, and Puget Sound, according to a press release from the county.

For more information visit www.piercecountywa.org/pssh. The site includes links to city programs money-saving coupons for compost, pet waste bags, and car washes.

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