River-Friendly Programs

River-Friendly Resident Certification Program

Residents can fill out a self-certification questionnaire online (or print one out and mail it in) to receive recognition as a River-Friendly Resident. The questionnaire includes questions about lawn management practices, water conservation and septic system management. This quick and easy questionnaire is a resident's pledge to manage their property in a responsible manner to help protect our drinking water resources and the environment. Technical assistance is available to residents who wish to implement River Friendly actions on their property. Certified residents receive a River-Friendly Resident reusable shopping bag to acknowledge their commitment to protecting water resources.

Interested in having NJWSA present the River-Friendly Resident program to your environmental commission, garden club or other community group in the North & South Branch Raritan or Lower Raritan watershed? Contact Rick Anthes at (908) 685-0315 x233 or ranthes@raritanbasin.org.

Sample Questions:

• I pick up after my pet.
• My gutters are directed away from paved areas onto vegetation or into a rain barrel.
• I perform soil tests at least every other year.
• I do not use pesticides or fertilizers within 10 feet of my stream (or other water body).
• I use water collected in a rain barrel for watering my garden.
• I have at least 1 low flow toilet in my house, or at least 1 toilet has been modified to function as low flow.
• My septic system is pumped and maintained every 3-5 years.

Resources:

The River-Friendly Resident Survey!

How to Build and Install a Rain Barrel

River-Friendly tips

Rain Gardens

What is a watershed?