Water pollution has numerous sources. The Mobile Bay National Estuary Clean Water Future program encourages people to spread the word, not the pollution.

The Create a Clean Water Future campaign is working with many individuals, businesses, community groups and schools to stop water pollution. This movement involves community support to raise awareness about storm runoff and the pollution it carries. Clean Water Future partners with more than 42 organizations, including cities and businesses, to provide education on water pollution while challenging people to adopt environmentally sound habits at home, work and play.

Create a Clean Water Future is building a comprehensive management plan to attack pollution at its many sources. Storm water pollution falls into four main categories: litter, bacterial, erosion and sediment, and chemical and nutrient.

The battle on litter is two-fold: clean up trash that is already in waterways, and take steps to prevent and manage additional litter.

Bacterial pollution is primarily associated with fecal waste, including pet waste, sewer overflow, septic systems and livestock. Local pet owners can clean up waste from their pets and manage their septic systems, but bacterial pollution also falls on the shoulders of farmers and municipalities.

Chemical and nutrient pollution is washed into waterways from landscapes, farms, parking lots and industrial complexes. Small businesses are now getting tools to manage their nutrient waste, allowing removal of pollutants from wastewater and reusage of up to 90% of the water.

Erosion and sediment pollution is a complex issue with complex solutions. Comprehensive plans have been developed to address erosion and sediment pollution in severely degraded D’Olive Creek Watershed. Development techniques are being put into place to keep storm water onsite rather than moving it downstream, allowing pollutants to be filtered through the soil rather than move into waterways.

Innovation and collaboration by key organizations and members are making a big difference in ensuring we have clean water in the future and minimizing pollution.