My name is Natalia and I’m a 14 year old resident of Washington DC. I have lived here all my life, and grown up knowing the Potomac and Anacostia rivers; our two main sources of drinking water. Unfortunately I have also grown up knowing just how polluted they are.

The Anacostia, otherwise known as the “forgotten river,” is one of the dirtiest rivers in the nation. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and in one 2015 study by the National Oceanic  and Atmospheric Administration, it was found that approximately 20,000 tons of dirty sewage water and trash is dumped into the poor river every year. Not only that, but the river itself was even given an “F” grade for water quality by the Anacostia Watershed Society.

One of the main reasons these rivers are so polluted is because of sewage overflow. Sewage overflow occurs during or after rainstorms, when the water from the city streets rushes  into storm drains and takes waste water from houses and other litter with it, over flowing the waste water treatment plant, the sewage system’s final destination. This then affects the rivers because the trash and human waste can then be deposited into the waterway, contaminating the water bodies. 

Therefore, sewage overflow in DC is a huge issue, affecting both the ecosystems of the water—like the lives of native fish and other wildlife— and the health of local DC residents. After all, the water in these polluted rivers is the same water that we all DRINK. And on top of that, it’s officially against the law to even SWIM in Rock Creek, let alone the bigger rivers!

So please, for the good of you, your friends and family,  your fellow native Washingtonians and the natural habits DC strives to maintain, sign this petition to raise awareness and convince governors to install infrastructure like rain gardens in public parks, green roofs, permeable surfaces—like brick instead of pavement—and storm drain guards and netting to reduce flash flooding and polluted street water rushing into our water sources. 

Thank you so much for reading and signing this petition for the good of all!