Your Home’s Systems
Learn about drinking water, septic systems, waste, and energy resources
Where does your drinking water come from?
In Clinton, there is no municipal water system. Each household has its own dug or drilled private well to access groundwater in underground aquifers. Every resident is responsible for protecting our water. What you can do to protect our water.
Where does your waste go?
All homes in Clinton rely on septic systems. There is no municipal sewer system. A few small, simple steps of proper care and maintenance of your septic system can help you and your neighbors stay healthy and protect the environment. For homeowners, proper care can also prevent costly repairs or replacement of systems, protect property values, and save water.
New Homeowners Guide to Septic Systems
Facts Clinton Residents Should Know [written out as a blog post]
New Homeowners Guide to Septic Systems
Clinton Wells, Septic Systems and You! [written out as blog post]
New York State Law Restricts Use of Lawn Fertilizers
Energy Resources and Materials
Dutchess County Cornell Cooperative Extension – Energy – Provides Energy Efficiency and Conservation Information for Home, Business, & Municipalities:
NYSERDA – public benefit corporation that administers energy efficiency programs and funding and provides technical assistance with the aim of helping NYS reduce energy consumption.
Climate Change Resources
Sustainable Hudson Valley – a regional organization devoted to sustainable development, creator of the regional 10% Challenge
Waste: Composting and Recycling
Composting
A significant fraction of the solid waste generated in the United States is organic material that can be recycled through small scale composting. Households, businesses and institutions may save money by composting items such as food scraps and yard trimmings while sending less waste to landfills and incinerators. In addition, small scale composting is often the most environmentally sound way of recycling organic materials. The finished compost is a good soil amendment for a variety of gardening and landscape uses. Composting Guidelines are listed on the Cornell Waste Management Institute website. [from CCEDC]
Recycling
Every year, American people throw away 208 million tons of municipal solid waste, which means that every day each person throws away an average of 4.3 pounds of garbage or trash! In order to keep our landfills from getting too full, everyone should be aware of the… 3R’s: REDUCE (Use less of Everthing), REUSE, and RECYCLE. [from CCEDC]
Household Hazardous Waste Days
The Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency holds household hazardous waste days throughout the year in order for homeowners to dispose of substances that pose risks to the environment, wildlife and human health. Pre-Registration Form is required.
Open Burning - Prohibited Statewide
Open Burning Regulations – Burning trash is prohibited statewide and this includes burning household trash in wood stoves, fireplaces, and outdoor wood boilers. DEC recommends that you recycle all appropriate materials (such as newspaper, paper, glass and plastic) and compost your organic kitchen and garden waste. Composting Pamphlet.