7 surprising things volunteer leaders want you to know about the Potomac River
Know what a city scooter, a trash can, and the water we drink have in common? They can all be found in the Potomac
image courtesy of Whimboy Echavez Photography
We are so grateful for all of our volunteers who get their hands dirty for clean water! Today, we’re extending special appreciation to our volunteer leaders Monika Hartsel and Brian Cipperly who just recently were married on the Potomac River. We caught up with them at an Earth Month cleanup at Jones Point Park in Alexandria, Virginia—and here are seven things they learned as volunteer leaders stewarding our Nation's River.
1. Many people still don’t know the water we drink comes from the Potomac River
“Not everybody knows that their water comes from the Potomac,” noted Brian. But it’s true—drinking water for over 5 million residents in the Washington, DC metro area comes straight from the Potomac. Our hometown river literally flows out of our faucet and showerheads.
Water from the river is drawn by the Washington Aqueduct and treated at the Dalecarlia and McMillan treatment plants to make sure it meets safe drinking water standards. It is then distributed to residents through hundreds of miles of underground pipes while continuously monitored for quality. Which leads us to the next point...
2. Volunteers are surprised that the health of the Potomac is improving
“This takes people by surprise,” explained Brian, “but between the work [Potomac] Conservancy is doing and some big infrastructure projects that the city is doing, the health of both the Potomac and Anacostia rivers is actually improving.”
While the Conservancy graded the river a D in 2011, its health grade in 2020 rose to B-. Still, a lot of work is needed to address threats to the river’s health and prevent a dangerous course reversal.
3. People from all walks of life come out to protect the Potomac. We all have power to do good.
Last year, over 500 volunteers helped clean up the Potomac’s shores, helping keep over 8,000 lbs of trash out of the river. That’s a huge impact!
Seeing the community come together to protect the Potomac is one of the most rewarding things for Monika. “I especially love it when the Conservancy partners with other grassroots community organizations like Outdoor Afro, Latino Outdoors, or Green Muslims. I hope we can do even more of that!”
Brian added, “I really like seeing families bring their kids out to events. From a young age, they learn to be good stewards of land and water and give back to places where you might take a hike or go for a paddle.”
4. They found what in the Potomac!?
When it comes to trash in the Potomac, volunteers sometimes come across rather surprising items.
“A couple of years ago when city scooters and city bicycles first became popular, we pulled out so many bikes from the river, it was crazy,” says Monika.
Another time at Jones Point Park, Brian found a recycling bin labeled Montgomery County, MD. “When I saw it, I thought, it must have gone out of somebody’s back yard, gone over Great Falls, and ended up in a cove over here.” Talk about a message in a trash can...
5. The source of litter is more complicated than you think.
“It’s not necessarily that people are throwing their water bottles into the river,” notes Monika. Just like with the trash can, litter may end up in the river completely by accident. What may have originally been recycled and disposed of in a safe, proper manner, may still get blown out of the bin and find its way into the Potomac. That’s why it’s important to look at consumption from a bigger perspective.
6. Picking up trash is just the beginning
Monika finds that participating in cleanups sparks bigger questions about what else we can do to fight for clean water. Doing a cleanup once in a while certainly helps, but “volunteers often leave here thinking about the choices they’re making, the products they buy, and the ways they can integrate more eco-friendly solutions into their own lives. That, to me, is really valuable.”
See also: The Real Reason People Litter – and What You Can Do to Help