Reduce runoff, install roof gutters and rain barrels.

Storm water runoff is one of the major causes of beach and water pollution (see annual rating of water quality at 200 popular beaches in NRDC report, Testing the Waters. It’s also something we can help prevent through simple changes around our homes.

If your house doesn’t have roof gutters, rainwater streaming off roof tiles will only compound runoff from your driveway, patio and other surfaces, so make the upgrade. Adding rain barrels to the downspouts from your gutters eliminates rooftop runoff and provides a supply of non-potable water for irrigation. As an added plus, barrels made from recycled food-grade containers are widely sold and help reduce waste and plastic production. Barrels are available at Clean Air Gardening and Aaron’s Rain Barrels among others.

Look for other ways to reduce stormwater runoff in Got a Minute? A Morning? A Month?

Also, check out this NRDC slideshow with examples of communities across America cleaning up their water – and saving money – with low impact development.

For more, see what these Smarter Cities are doing to protect water quality: Burnsville, MN; Norwalk, CT; Kansas, City, MO; Santa Monica, CA and Denver, CO.

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