To the Editor:
When I first moved to Alexandria, I would often run and walk around the water in Old Town. However, I started to notice the endless amount of litter in and around the Potomac River. I was shocked. This is the nation’s capital and somehow our river is one of the dirtiest in the United States.
This is unacceptable. What is more alarming is that the Potomac River provides drinking water for over 5 million people. It makes you think twice about what you are really drinking.
My friends and I have done several clean-up projects on and around the Old Town Waterfront, Founders Park and Oronoco Bay Park. During our clean-up efforts, we found disturbing items like: tires, mattresses, large amounts of styrofoam, shoes, an endless amount of plastic bottles and wrappers. I even took a log of styrofoam (almost the size of me) out of the river — see photo.
It is our job to protect our local waterways and keep our city beautiful. When you see something, do the right thing and pick it up.
Caleb Laieski
Alexandria
Advocate for the LGBT Community, Public Safety, and the Environment