City of Menlo Park, CA

08/17/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/17/2026 09:37

August is National Water Quality Month

August is National Water Quality Month

Published on August 17, 2026

Did you know that August is National Water Quality Month? This is a great opportunity to learn about where our water comes from and how we can preserve it. Educating ourselves and others is the best way to ensure that water continues to be of high quality and free of contamination.

Here are some simple steps you can take at home to protect water quality and conserve water:

  • Pick up after your pets. Pet waste carries bacteria that can harm water quality.
  • Avoid using fertilizer made with phosphorus. When phosphorus makes its way into waterways, it causes algae blooms.
  • Do not flush expired or unwanted medication down the toilet. Visit the City's webpage on medication disposal for more information.
  • Take hazardous chemicals such as used oil, antifreeze or paint to the Shoreway Environmental Center instead of disposing of it down the drain.
  • Plant drought tolerant or native plants that require less water and minimize runoff.
  • Instead of hosing down the driveway, consider sweeping up debris with a broom and dustpan.
  • Avoid overwatering your lawn to reduce runoff.
  • Instead of washing your car at home, consider going to a car wash where soapy water is routed to the sanitary sewer rather than our waterways.
  • Install a rain barrel and use it to collect rainwater for plant irrigation. Rebates are available for Menlo Park Municipal Water (MPMW) customers for up to $200 for the purchase and installation of a rain barrel.

For more information on stormwater quality, visit menlopark.gov/stormwater.

MPMW encourages you to continue to conserve water so that Menlo Park can remain resilient during future droughts and water shortages. To help you conserve water at home, MPMW offers a multitude of rebates and incentives. For more information, visit menlopark.gov/waterconservation.

Interested in learning more about the quality of your drinking water? Each year, MPMW produces an annual Water Quality Report that contains a summary of the water quality conditions. The report also describes where your water comes from and how it compares to drinking water standards set by the State of California.

Visit menlopark.gov/waterquality to view the 2025 Water Quality Report.

City of Menlo Park, CA published this content on August 17, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 17, 2026 at 15:37 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]