Residential Water Quality Program

    Extension residential water quality programs in Connecticut work to increase the public's understanding of their relationship to and impact on our state's water resources.  Information is provided to residents in a variety of forms including educational programs, informational brochures and fact sheets, teaching demonstration sites and websites.  The purpose of these efforts is to promote sustainable landscaping practices, including lawn care and sustainable gardens, as well as, understanding home water systems (domestic wells and septic systems).

Why It Matters

    Connecticut's landscape is changing and, with it, our impact on water resources. We all drink water, whether from a private well or a public water supply. Many of us also maintain lawns and gardens. What we often do not do is think about how these are connected. With more lands developed, lawns seeded and gardens planted, there is increased risk to our water supplies if proper maintenance practices are not understood and used.

    Lawns and gardens can add great living space to our homes. Oftentimes, the care of these areas brings high levels of satisfaction to those maintaining them. Learning to care for lawns and gardens in ways that protect our water resources is an important step in protecting our future. Without a clean and adequate supply of water, our lives would be vastly different. The residential water quality program works to address these and other topics that help in the goal to protect our water resources.