August is National Water Quality Month

Published on August 11, 2025

Did you know that August is National Water Quality Month? Founded by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2005 to raise awareness on the value of our fresh water resources, it provides a perfect opportunity to learn about where our water comes from and how we can preserve it. Educating ourselves and others is the best way to ensure that water continues to be high quality and free of contamination.

There are many things we can do to ensure that the water that enters our creeks, storm drains and San Francisco Bay is free of pollution. Below are a few tips:

• Pick up after your pets.
• Instead of hosing down the driveway, consider using a broom instead.
• Instead of washing your car at home, consider going to a car wash.
• Avoid using fertilizer made with phosphorus.
• Avoid overwatering your lawn to reduce runoff.
• Plant drought tolerant or native plants that require less water and minimize runoff.
• Do not flush expired or unwanted medication down the toilet. Visit the City’s webpage on medication disposal for more information.
• Take hazardous chemicals such as used oil, antifreeze or paint to the Shoreway Environmental Center instead of disposing of it down the drain.
• Install a rain barrel and use it to collect rainwater for plant irrigation.

Menlo Park Municipal Water wants to remind customers to continue to conserve water so that Menlo Park can remain resilient during future droughts and water shortages. To help you conserve water at home, we offer customers a multitude of rebates and incentives for water conservation. For more information, visit menlopark.gov/waterconservation.

Interested in learning more about the quality of your drinking water? Each year, Menlo Park Municipal Water produces an annual Water Quality Report that contains a summary of how the City’s drinking water meets or exceeds federal and state drinking water standards.

Visit menlopark.gov/waterquality to view the 2024 Water Quality Report.