What can you do to reduce pollution?

Water. It's essential to all of us. But pollution and limited resources threaten our water supplies, and a confusing web of entities controls who gets water and how much. The Herald's exclusive, six-part series examines important water issues facing Franklin County.

Perhaps you've noticed the medals stuck on the city storm drains.

The medals, which sport a stamped outline of a fish and the words "Don't Dump. Drains to River," are part of an effort to cut the pollution that gets into the Marais des Cygnes River, Fran Bennett, Williamsburg, said. Bennett is a member of the Marais des Cygnes River Basin Advisory Committee, which is making a push to cut the amount of pollutants in the river and its tributaries.

 The medals are designed to discourage people from dumping used motor oil, antifreeze and other automotive wastes -- which are major sources of river pollution -- into storm drains and to remind people that water that goes into the storm drain system ends up in the river, he said.

Water in the storm drains, and the stuff it carries along, isn't treated. Tree limbs, bits of shingling, anti-freeze and oil dripping onto the street all go directly into the river, Bennett said.

As an informative flyer by the Marais des Cygnes River Basin Advisory Committee says, if you wouldn't want to drink it or swim in it, don't let it get in a storm drain.

Several communities in the 13-county Marais des Cygnes basin are taking part in the effort and in some cases putting up signs in ditches, parks and other public areas that drain into the Marais des Cygnes, he said.

Among other recommendations on how you can reduce river pollution:

• If you don't use commercial car washes, wash your car or truck on your lawn, not on the driveway or street. Grass and soil are the best water filters and treatment process of all, the Kansas Sierra Club notes.

• Cut back on the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in your lawn or garden.

• Compost garden and lawn trimmings.

• Recycle used oil.

• Pick up your pets' poop.

• Take leftover and unused paint and pesticide to a household hazardous waste and collection site.

• Don't litter.