Flush today, clog tomorrow

There are wipes for your baby, wipes for your counter, wipes for your windows and wipes for your hands. They are so easy to use and then toss. But if you're in the habit of flushing them down the toilet, they could create a mess too big for any wipe. Many household cleaning products are labeled as "disposable," but don't dissolve and shouldn't be flushed down the toilet. They clog pipes, causing costly sewer repairs in homes and public sewer systems. The bottom line — all wipes and "disposable" cleaning products belong in the trash, not the toilet.

Read more from the Oregonian and EnviroMom blog.

Photo: Pipe clogged with wipes

Water for our future?

With all the rain we get, it seems unlikely that we would ever run out of water. However, the water needs of our region are expected to double in the next 45 years and the Tualatin Basin Water Supply Project partners are looking at long-term solutions by raising the dam at Hagg Lake to supply an additional 50,000 acre feet of water per year. Watch the Water for the Future video to learn more about the project. The 12-minute video illustrates how local partners are working together to meet long-term needs for drinking water, agricultural irrigation and in-stream flow.

Photo: Hagg Lake looking south

Students take it to the street

Do you know where your storm drain leads? Local high school students created 30 second videos to raise awareness about what happens to water after it enters a storm drain and the impact it has on neighborhood streams. Matthew Dan of Beaverton, submitted the winning video and won $250 for himself and an additional $250 for his school. The grand prize was provided by the Tualatin Basin Partners for Clean Water. The winners will be featured at the Tualatin Riverkeepers annual meeting, January 25.

Watch the winning entry.