Carmel encourages participation in White River Clean Up effort

As part of Water Awareness Week in Carmel, the city is participating in the 25th annual White River Clean Up, to be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 14.  This will be Carmel’s 14th year participating in the event.

Volunteers will remove trash from the White River in an effort to make a difference in the community and improve water quality. Register today at whiterivercleanup.org.

Volunteers will be provided with clean-up supplies, water, lunch and a White River Clean Up T-shirt (while supplies last). Volunteers are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes and old clothes that can get dirty and wet. Volunteers can meet at one of two locations:

  • Carmel/Fishers location: 116th Street Boat Launch, 6100 Wapihani Drive, Fishers
  • Noblesville location: The Moose Lodge, 950 Field Drive (near State Road 19)

The City of Carmel says it is important to participate in this opportunity to protect the White River as a natural resource and bring awareness to storm water pollution prevention.  Residents are encouraged to support and participate in the city’s efforts to preserve and protect the environmental beauty and recreational value of the White River and other waterways so that they may be enjoyed by future generations.

If you can’t make the clean-up, consider attending one of the many White River Festival events throughout September promoted by Carmel’s education partner, The White River Alliance. To see the White River Festival schedule, click here.

In addition, during Water Awareness Week, the city reminds residents to do the following:

  • Refrain from dumping anything into a ditch, stream, or storm drain, including yard waste.
  • Clean up and properly dispose of pet or animal waste.
  • Use a soil test to determine your lawn’s fertilizer needs, and consider phosphorus-free fertilizers.
  • Use bug, rodent, algae and weed killers sparingly and according to the label.
  • Wash your car at a full- or self-service car wash instead of your driveway.
  • Direct swimming pool and spa filter backwash into the sanitary sewer.
  • Report any illegal dumping into storm drains or waterways to the City of Carmel Engineering Department at (317) 571-2441 (within city limits and during normal business hours), or IDEM’s 24-hour hotline at 1-888-233-7745.
  • Consider installing a rain barrel to conserve and reuse rain water. Carmel residents are eligible to receive a $50 to $75 cost share for installed barrels. Click here for more information.