In partnership with the Des Plaines Public Library, Maine Township families joined the Ike's to learn how we can play a crucial role in protecting our precious waterways! Through the League’s Save Our Streams program, dedicated volunteers have been making a significant impact since 1969. In the past, we faced daunting challenges like oil spills and rivers ablaze, but even small actions—like cleaning up local streams—have proven to be incredibly effective.

We kicked off the day with a walk-about to learn about the Ikes Forest Regeneration Program for our prairie, wetland, and oak savannah, then collected our water samples from the Des Plaines River to learn more about the IKE's water monitoring programs like Nitrate Watch and Salt Watch.
Our family "Salt Watchers" used easy-to-use test kits to “dip and discover” whether the Des Plaines River is affected by excessive road salt use. Although road salt is (typically) only applied during the winter months, chloride pollution lingers and has year-round impacts on our waterways and environment. You can help uncover these impacts by getting involved in Salt Watch right now! As chloride persists, our monitoring and cleanup efforts do too. More at www.saltwatch.org
Our volunteers gathered valuable data on local waterways and uploaded their findings to the Clean Water Hub (cleanwaterhub.org), which aggregates results from over 56,000 samples nationwide! Your contributions can help raise awareness and drive action against pollution in our communities.
Water Conservation
Once, clean fresh water was something we could take for granted. That’s no longer possible. Clean water, essential to our survival and a basic human right, is increasingly scarce. About one-half of one percent of the water on Earth is clean and readily available. Consider how you can also save water at home. By preventing leaks in pipes and fixtures, the average family can save about 180 gallons of water per week—equivalent to washing more than 300 loads of laundry each year! Running the dishwasher only when it’s full can eliminate one load per week, saving nearly 320 gallons annually. Simple habits, like turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, can save eight gallons of water per day. Plus, being mindful of outdoor water use—especially since it accounts for 30% of total household use—can have a big impact, particularly in arid regions.
Call to Action
We invite schools, youth groups, and families to join us in this vital effort! Your participation not only contributes to cleaner waterways but also fosters a sense of environmental stewardship in our younger generations. Together, we can make a difference!
To learn more about the event and how you can get involved, visit www.iwa-desplaines.org.
Let’s come together to protect our streams—your superhero moment awaits!
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