Around our country, people care deeply about water—regardless of how we may be divided in other ways. Water is a rare topic that has the power to unify us through shared experience, from its power to hydrate us, support our native ecosystems and create the foundations for recreational and community gatherings.
The Clean Water Education Partnership (CWEP) understands the vital role water plays in our everyday lives. CWEP is dedicated to protecting this resource in the Tar-Pamlico, Neuse, and Cape Fear River Basins through providing public outreach and education on stormwater pollution.
Like many good things, we tend to take water for granted. It’s out of sight and out of mind, delivered to and removed from our homes in underground pipes and appearing on demand when we turn on the tap.
Imagine a Day Without Water is a National Day of Action designed to change that. And over the last 10 years, people across the country have rallied to raise awareness about our most essential resource. Today, the Clean Water Education Partnership recognizes the importance of safeguarding this resource in relation to stormwater pollution.
Year round, CWEP is working to make our waterways cleaner by raising awareness of pollutants often picked up in stormwater runoff. Along with regular educational visits to schools, libraries, and festivals, CWEP runs a yearly mass media campaign highlighting a water pollutant of interest. Last year, CWEP emphasized the importance of regular vehicle maintenance to prevent motor oil leaks from reaching storm drains. The campaign was an overarching success, generating over 14 million impressions across digital platforms, radio, print, and television.
This year, CWEP’s multi-media campaign will highlight floodplain and stream protection as a crucial part of keeping waterways clean. This is because these areas act as natural buffers, filtering pollutants and sediment before they enter larger bodies of water. CWEP will be providing resources for homeowners, farmers, and contractors to improve floodplains on their properties. By understanding the importance of these natural systems, we can empower our communities to take meaningful action for water sustainability.
Today, each one of us can help build an unstoppable movement in support of water. By participating in the tenth anniversary of Imagine a Day Without Water, we can raise the level of awareness that will drive action. On October 17, take a moment to consider what your day might look like without a shower, a coffee, or a working bathroom. View CWEP’s resources to learn more about how you can protect your local waterways. Then visit imagineadaywithoutwater.org to find out how you can add your drop to the bucket.