Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners’ 2024 Annual Campaign Results
Polluted stormwater runoff is the number one cause of poor water quality in Northern Virginia's waterways. When it rains and snows, water runs off streets, driveways, yards and parking lots and mixes with pollutants, such as litter, fertilizer, pet waste, road salt, and auto fluids. These pollutants then enter storm drains on the street and are discharged directly into nearby streams. To reduce the impacts of stormwater pollution, the Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners (NVCWP) joined together to improve residents’ knowledge and behaviors through an ongoing public education campaign.
The NVCWP is composed of a group of local governments, drinking water and sanitation authorities, and businesses that share the common goals to keep Northern Virginia residents healthy and safe by reducing the amount of pollution from stormwater runoff that reaches local creeks and rivers, and empower individuals to take action to reduce pollution. To meet these goals, the partners identify high priority water quality issues for the region and conduct an annual Regional Stormwater Education Campaign to engage and educate residents on ways that they can improve their stormwater-related behaviors.
Following the campaign, the NVCWP conducts an online survey of Northern Virginia residents to assess the effectiveness of the campaign strategy and best direct future education and outreach efforts based on survey responses. In 2024, the survey asked specific questions regarding Northern Virginia residents' knowledge and behaviors around relevant stormwater management and pollution issues, such as pet waste, lawn and garden care, winter salt application, and automobile care, as well as campaign advertising and messaging impacts.
The following captures a snapshot of several survey findings from this past year:
Pet Waste
In a decrease from 2023 (51%), 43% of residents reported owning at least one dog. Of those that walk their dog, 87% stated that they always or usually pick up their dog's waste during walks. The majority also reported picking up after their pet in their own yard on a daily basis (59%), while 24% pick up on a weekly basis.
Salt Application
During snowy and icy conditions, 34% of residents stated that they always or frequently apply deicer (e.g., rock salt) at their residence, and 17% always or frequently apply an abrasive (e.g., sand). The majority of residents feel that salt has a positive impact on emergency vehicle safety (62%), motorist safety (65%), and pedestrian safety (69%), but only 41% of residents also feel that it has a negative impact on local waterways.
Lawn and Garden Care
Two-thirds (66%) of residents with a lawn or garden stated that they use a lawn care service at least once a year. Of those, 74% reported using fertilizer at least once a year. Notably, there was a slight increase in residents that fertilize only when a soil test recommends it (11%), and those that never fertilize (15%).
Clean Water Partners Recognition
33% of survey respondents selected that they were familiar with the NVCWP prior to the survey, and when shown the "only rain down the storm drain" fish logo, 54% of residents reported having previously seen the logo. In addition, 71% stated that they trust information from the campaign, and 67% would contact the NVCWP if they had questions about water quality.
NVRC is pleased to coordinate the activities of the Clean Water Partners program as it helps present a clear regional message, saves our partners money by pooling resources and working together, helps those localities with stormwater permits meet their public education requirements and most importantly helps protect our water ways and eventually our drinking water supply.
For additional survey results and information about the Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners, visit onlyrain.org or contact Rebecca Murphy, NVRC’s Coastal Program Manager, at rmurphy@novaregion.org.
You can download the 2024 Clean Water Partners report by clicking on the button.
Report Infographic
About the Northern Virginia Regional Commission
NVRC is a consortium of thirteen local governments representing more than 2.5 million residents. While only 3% of Virginia's land mass, Northern Virginia has a GDP of $276 Billion which is 41.6% of the GDP of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Northern Virginia’s GDP is larger than 24 states and the District of Columbia and if a country would be the 48th largest economy in the world.