January 2022 Edition

The High Desert Droplet is a collection of tips to help you prevent stormwater pollution in your community.

Keeping the High Desert Beautiful in 2022

New year, new promise! Pledge to help us keep our waterways clean.

It’s up to us to keep our waterways clean. If you’re looking for a clean and green way to start the new year, take our updated Personal Pledge or Business Pledge! When you do, you’re making a promise to be #StormwaterSavvy and take action to protect our High Desert water supply. 

In addition to taking a pledge, consider adding one of these activities to your calendar in 2022:

1. Participate in a neighborhood clean-up.
2. Plant a water wise garden at your home, school, or somewhere in your community.
3. Wash your vehicle at a car wash that uses recycled water. 

Renovate, Don't Contaminate

Are you planning home improvement projects this year? Follow these tips for all your renovation and construction projects.

Home painting:

• Use water-based paints. Clean water-based paints in the sink, and oil-based paints with thinner.
• Wrap dried paint residue in newspaper and dispose of it in the trash.
• Store paints and paint-related products inside rigid, durable and watertight containers.

Construction:

• Keep construction debris away from the street, gutter and storm drains. 
• Schedule grading and excavation projects for dry weather. 
• Sweep or scoop up cement washout or concrete dust instead of hosing into driveways, streets, gutters or storm drains. 

Waste Disposal

• Paint, cleaners, and other toxic home improvement products are too dangerous to dump in the garbage or down the drain. 
• Recycle them at a household hazardous waste collection facility. Call (800) CLEANUP to find a hazardous waste facility in your area.

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic. They can come from any plastic items that end up in our waterways including plastic bottles, grocery bags, textile fabrics, and more. They also come from cleansers and toothpastes that use “microbeads” as an exfoliant. Microplastics are now being found in our water supply, including drinking water, tap water, and bottled water. 

So, what does the Mojave River Watershed Group recommend? 



First, and most important is to reduce our use of plastics, especially those that are single-use! We must also properly recycle and dispose of any plastic that we do use. We can stop using beauty or hygiene products that include microbeads. Purchasing clothing that is made of natural materials is also helpful! Lastly, we can air-dry our clothes to prevent synthetic fabrics from breaking down. 

www.mojaveriver.org

(951) 462-1106

Town of Apple Valley Hesperia Victorville San Bernardino County