From rain barrels to water testing, Tippecanoe County offers ways to preserve watershed

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Everything we do on land will eventually make its way into our local water supply, explains Amanda Estes, storm water educator for the Tippecanoe County Partnership for Water Quality, and living in a large watershed like the Wabash River's provides Tippecanoe County an opportunity to make a significant impact in keeping waterways clean.

The Wabash River is the second largest tributary to the Ohio River and is the longest segment of free flowing river east of the Mississippi River, according to the Tippecanoe County Partnership for Water Quality website. While many might not live along the banks of the Wabash, what we do in our green spaces and in the streets make just as much of an impact to the river, Estes said.

"It can be kind of hard for people to connect," Estes said. "The river may be over here, but it can seem far away from your home, but that's where all our storm water goes."

One of the efforts to reduce storm water drainage into the Wabash, Estes explained, is through the Lafayette Renew's discounted rain barrel program. For residents on Lafayette city utilities, rain barrels can be purchased for $25, complete with all of the necessary pieces, like a mosquito net to prevent eggs from being laid. Across the river in West Lafayette, residents are able to purchase a barrel of their own for $60.

By offering a significant discount on rain barrels to residents compared to that of home improvement store prices, Estes said both cities encourage homeowners to become more engaged with river-friendly practices.

"So, instead of all of that storm water washing across your driveway and lawn, picking up pollutants, going down the storm water drains before making its way into the Wabash, you're collecting it," Estes explained. "Then you can either empty it once the soil is dry or you can use it to water gardens or plants around your home."

Volunteers needed for 'Wabash Sampling Blitz' on April 19-20

But owning a rain barrel isn't the only way county residents can get involved in protecting local watersheds.

On April 19 and 20, the Wabash River Enhancement Corp. will host its twice-annual "Wabash Sampling Blitz," providing volunteers with the opportunity to assist in testing over 200 local streams and tributaries that lead into the Wabash River.

Madison Neher, Tippecanoe County recycling and solid waste educator, said the volunteers will receive all the necessary materials to participate, including water waders and testing supplies. Some of the data collected through the sampling includes temperature, transparency, pH levels, e-coli and various nutrients.

The day of the event, volunteers will pick up needed supplies at one of two staging locations, where they will receive maps of their sampling locations, driving directions to get to the streams they will sample, and all the equipment needed to collect the samples, Neher said. Volunteers must provide their own transportation, and are advised to sign up with a sampling partner.

Alongside the data collected by the county, Purdue University also collects data from specific samples as well, Neher said, which will be analyzed for further pollutants such as Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a diverse group of thousands of chemicals used in hundreds of types of products that have become common in daily use.

Offering opportunities like the sampling blitz or rain barrel purchases, Estes said, are a great way for area residents to begin dipping their toes into watershed preservation, acting as a gateway to further independent opportunities.

"It's a great way to get people thinking about our local water," Estes said. "We kind of think of these as a gateway to considering native plants in landscapes, or maybe even making your own rain garden. There's a lot that can be done in your own back yard."

Jillian Ellison is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. She can be reached by email at jellison@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ellison_writes.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: How Tippecanoe County is working to preserve our watersheds