It Takes a Village
Stretching 225 miles across the Carolinas, the Catawba River is one of the most treasured natural resources for residents and aquatic life alike. Yet, its picturesque streams are threatening the very lives that depend on its vitality.
Catawba supplies nearly two million people with drinking water. Locals like CES Branch Manager Philip McKinney, enjoys sunset evenings fishing and sailing the waters where early explorer John Lawson established his first footprints in America. But present-day Catawba is sadly lined with pounds of trash pollution, making it now one of the most endangered waterways in the US.
According to the Center for Environmental Finance (CEF), 15 million children under the age of five die each year because of diseases caused by drinking water and 80% of the water pollution is caused by domestic sewage.
Thankfully, with residents like McKinney, there is hope for the future of this waterway. Last fall of 2017, he launched an initiative offering to compensate residents $100 for helping to clean up the river. He said he was raised on the river and found himself often heartbroken at the continuing flow of trash pollution lining the streams.
“Pollution is the first thing you notice about a body of water,” McKinney said. “Dirty water has a domino effect on other living organisms and we share responsibility as a community to care for our environment.”
Initially, the river clean-up initiative began as just a fun trash gathering contest between him and fiancé Paige Wallace. They spent hours every week picking up garbage that others left behind. To his surprise, they found it so rewarding he thought others should partake in it as well. By August of 2017, McKinney took his mission to Facebook creating a community of environmentally conscious citizens: My Water’s Keeper. The group encourages conservation and preservation of our rivers, lakes, and streams.
Just shy of two days after spearheading this group, nine people decided to match his $100 compensation offer to get other residents involved. McKinney received an outpour of donations and support including other groups launched in other cities, a children’s book project, and various other promotional items to spread the word. In September, he was able to host his first “Big Sweep” event inviting supporters to join him for a mass cleaning day. The results: Ten participants gathered 17 fully bags weighing over 423 pounds of trash from the Catawba proving that we are stronger as a community.
Eight months later, he is still blown away by the continuous outreach he receives. He plans to bring the project to Dallas, where he now heads up the CES Kennedale branch nearby.
“If everyone turns a blind eye, our rivers will be nothing but floating bottles one day. It’s up to us.” McKinney added.
To support McKinney, join the Facebook Group My Waters Keeper, and follow them on Instagram. Share in the comments below how you’re enacting change in your community!
