The Tool Kit currently holds homeowner checklists, records and “how-to” instructions on a variety of topics useful to homeowners.

Checklists, Records and “How To …”

Below find lists of helpful items for your home and garden. From septic system maintenance to weatherizing your home or selecting the proper pesticide – it’s all right here!

Yard and Garden

Winter Clean Up Tips

Pet Waste Management

Groundwater is Cool

An Unused Well Can Be a Monster of a Problem

How Do I Keep More of the Nitrogen in My Soil

Check.Before.You_.Choose.a.PESTICIDE

Pesticide Storage

Green Street Stewardship Practices

Know the Drill: Clean Up a Spill

Landscaping for Energy Efficiency

Lawn Care Tip Sheet

Managing Yard Waste to Preserve Water Quality

Use Phosphorus Free Fertilizer 

Best Practices for your Shoreline (information for lakefront property owners)

Proper Landscaping On and Around Your Septic System

Natural Shoreline Landscapes on Michigan’s Inland Lakes Guidebook for Property Owners

Smart Watering for Lawns: Don’t Let The Lawn Squeeze You Dry

Water Smart Landscapes by Design

Fertilizing Home Lawns to Protect Water Quality

Healthy Lawn Care Program for Watershed Protection

Rain Garden 101

Rain Gardens: A How-To Manual for Homeowners

How to Build Your Own Rain Garden

Landscaping for Water Quality: 3rd Edition, Updated July 2012

Landscaping for Water Quality – Garden Designs

Landscaping for Water Quality – Plant List

Your Home

Common Drinking Water Contaminants

Water Testing

Michigan’s Drinking Water Toolkit

Water Softener Salt Usage

Family Pledge for Bad Water Habits

Fix a Leak Family Factsheet

Homeowner’s Guide to Stormwater

Why Green Your Cleaning Products? 

Where Does all the Dirty Water Go?

Michigan Major Watersheds Map

WaterSense 2024 Water Saving Checklist

Ocean Conservancy Microfibers Fact Sheet

Septic Systems (Protect Groundwater!)

MDEGLE Minute-Septic Systems

Homeowners Guide to Septic Systems

New Homebuyers Guide to Septic Systems Brochure

Managing Your Septic System

Top 10 Ways to Be a Good Septic Owner

Did You Know SepticSmart Postcard

Do Your Part Get Septic Smart

Do’s and Don’ts of an Advanced Treatment Unit

The Do’s and Don’t’s of Your Septic System

Waste

Clean Sweep

Clean Sweep Directory

Household Hazardous Products

Proper Disposal of Prescription Drugs

Michigan Recycling Directory

Get the Lead Out!

Concerned about Lead in Your Drinking Water?

Drinking Water Requirements for Lead

Your Community

Boaters Reference Guide to Aquatic Invasive Species in the Great Lakes

Clean, Drain, Dry to Prevent the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species

Plastic Free Great Lakes Toolkit from Alliance for the Great Lakes

Love Our Waterways Brochure from Michigan Waterways Stewards

Helpful Videos!

And if you learn better by watching videos we have you covered too. Hop over to Environmental Videos to learn more about our Great Lakes, water conservation and more! And if you feel like staying for a while, there are a lot of other educational topics covered. There’s nothing like a video to make learning fun!

Looking for more information?

MSU Extension Water Quality

EPA Water Sense

EGLE-SepticSmart

 

IT’S ALL THE SAME WATER