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Two areas on Falls Lake got a makeover last week, as Sound Rivers Executive Director Heather Deck and water-quality intern Eloise MacLean teamed up with Xylem employees for a cleanup.

A total of 188 pounds of trash was collected.

“We had a retired board member and guru volunteer Paul Michell lead one group to an area that is a known hang-out spot along the lake, and Eloise and I led another group along the Neuse Greenway Trail, cleaning up the banks of the Neuse River,” Heather said.

Xylem, a global water-technology and water-solutions company in Raleigh, reached out to Sound Rivers, looking for a volunteer opportunity for their employees. The company offers its employees the chance to volunteer, with volunteer hours counting as part of a regular work day.

“We have done several Falls Lake cleanups, also this year’s Earth Day cleanup, with Xylem teams over the years, and Xylem sponsored our Little Rock Creek trash trap in 2022 when it was first installed,” Heather said. “We really enjoy these opportunities to connect with and get dirty/work alongside folks living and working in our watersheds.”

Heather said they had some interesting finds during the cleanup: very nice beach towels that were discarded next to what looked like the remains of a party — beer cans, trash, etc. —  a tire, a soft-sided cooler and lots of discarded fishing line and hooks.

“We filled up one and a half recycling carts from all the trash collected, so we diverted about a third of it from the landfill to recycling,” she said.

If your company is interested in volunteer opportunities for your employees, we love having help! Contact Sound Rivers for more information.