Are you ready to go Upstream?

Whether you need water to wash your dog or to have a nice refreshing drink, the one thing we all know is that our water needs to be clean. Clean water is a vital part of our everyday lives, and through the Upstream Matters campaign, we can bring awareness of Raleigh’s water sources so we can keep it safe and clean for our communities.  This matters greatly since Ellerbe Creek's waters all flow into Falls Lake, the drinking source for the city of Raleigh!

It’s because of clean water that small businesses can thrive, local farms are nourished and, above all, we all have clean water to use, drink, and play in. So, how can we ensure it remains clean? To answer that, we have to look upstream.

In the Triangle, our water source comes from the Upper Neuse River Basin, and making sure it’s well protected keeps our water clean for eating, drinking and playing.

Thankfully, there are programs and partnerships like the Upper Neuse Clean Water Initiative that work with local and state governmental agencies and landowners to keep our water clean and healthy. Thanks to City of Raleigh water ratepayers, an average of about 57 cents of their water utility bill goes toward funding those programs that ensure our water remains clean.

Regardless of what your use for water is, you can be assured there are organizations actively working together to keep the upstream clean –and together we can continue to make it possible for them to succeed. To learn more about why Upstream Matters, visit upstreammatters.org.