Original site that provided this information is http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/gsteps.asp . Everyday, household products are a major contributor to water contamination and pollution. When it rains, fertilizers from lawns, oil residue from streets, other solvent residues from homes, and pet wastes are washed into storm drains and our water sources such as lakes, streams, and rivers. Contaminating the water that we use for bathing, washing, drinking, and swimming. Not only endangering our health, but it also impacts the animals that thrive in water ecosystems. Here are some ways that you can help decrease polluted runoff: 1. DISPOSING OF HOUSEHOLD WASTES PROPERLY: Keep hazardous wastes such as paints, insecticides, and other chemicals in proper containers, that are to be kept in a clean, dry place. NEVER pour these items down the sink, toilet, or drain, for they contain harmful substances such as: Sodium hypochlorite, petroleum distillates, phenol, cresol, ammonia, and formaldehyde. These chemicals are toxic, and can make humans sick. However, it can kill the animals that live in water ecosystems. To properly discard of these materials, take them to your local Eco centre or public sanitation centre.
2. USE NONTOXIC PRODUCTS: Stop purchasing toxic products, and invest in environmentally friendly, nontoxic products. Ask your store if they do carry nontoxic products, or you can always check the label. They may be hard to find, but you can use the Internet to find safe subtypes for toxic household products.
3. RECYCLE AND DISPOSE OF GARBAGE PROPERLY: NEVER discard non-disposable products down the toilet. They can damage the sewer treatment process and can end up littering beaches and waters.
4. CONSERVE WATER: Invest in efficient home products. Purchasing items such as efficient plumbing fixtures, toilet dams or bricks, and low flow toilets and shower heads can conserve gallons of water per year. It can can also save you lots of money! Also, instead of washing your side walk/drive way, sweep it instead.
5. USE NATURAL FERTILIZERS: Using natural fertilizers such as compost, manure, bone meal, and peat moss can replace the use of using toxic fertilizers. They can be found at any local garden centre, or you can ask a local farmer for any of these products.
6. AVOID OVER-WATERING: Using slow-watering techniques such as trickle or drip irrigation's, and soaker hoses are more efficient than sprinklers. Over watering can lead to leaching of fertilizers into ground water. And remember, water in the morning before noon and at dusk (watering during the hottest part of the day causes people to water more, and it evaporates the water that the flowers need throughout the day, causing them to wilt).
7. DECREASE HARD SURFACE AREAS AROUND YOUR HOME: Having fewer surfaces of asphalt and concrete in your yard can improve drainage. Do landscaping with gravel, vegetation, and other porous materials, to prevent flooding/ pooling of water in your house and your yard.
8. MAINTAIN SEPTIC SYSTEMS PROPERLY: Have you septic tank cleaned every 3-5 years. Having a poorly maintained septic system and contaminate ground water. And by keeping it maintained, your prolonging the life of the system.
9. RECYCLE USED MOTOR OIL: Again, do NOT pour motor oil down any drainage system! It can seep into ground water and contaminate it. Be smart, and take your used oil to an Eco system or your local sanitation system. Also, keep your car maintained to prevent leakage of hazardous materials.
10. BE GREEN WHEN WASHING YOUR CAR: When at home, use a bucket of soapy water, rags, and a hose. Turning off the house in between rinsing can save 150 gallons of water! Or, if you don't want to do it yourself, go to a car wash that reuses it's water.
11. HELP IDENTIFY, REPORT AND STOP POLLUTERS.
12. BE AN ACTIVIST.
IF YOU THINK OUR DRINKING WATER HAS SEVERE PROBLEMS, CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO ON THE PEOPLE OF AFRICA. THEY HAVE IT EXTREMELY WORSE THAN WE DO!
2. USE NONTOXIC PRODUCTS: Stop purchasing toxic products, and invest in environmentally friendly, nontoxic products. Ask your store if they do carry nontoxic products, or you can always check the label. They may be hard to find, but you can use the Internet to find safe subtypes for toxic household products.
3. RECYCLE AND DISPOSE OF GARBAGE PROPERLY: NEVER discard non-disposable products down the toilet. They can damage the sewer treatment process and can end up littering beaches and waters.
4. CONSERVE WATER: Invest in efficient home products. Purchasing items such as efficient plumbing fixtures, toilet dams or bricks, and low flow toilets and shower heads can conserve gallons of water per year. It can can also save you lots of money! Also, instead of washing your side walk/drive way, sweep it instead.
5. USE NATURAL FERTILIZERS: Using natural fertilizers such as compost, manure, bone meal, and peat moss can replace the use of using toxic fertilizers. They can be found at any local garden centre, or you can ask a local farmer for any of these products.
6. AVOID OVER-WATERING: Using slow-watering techniques such as trickle or drip irrigation's, and soaker hoses are more efficient than sprinklers. Over watering can lead to leaching of fertilizers into ground water. And remember, water in the morning before noon and at dusk (watering during the hottest part of the day causes people to water more, and it evaporates the water that the flowers need throughout the day, causing them to wilt).
7. DECREASE HARD SURFACE AREAS AROUND YOUR HOME: Having fewer surfaces of asphalt and concrete in your yard can improve drainage. Do landscaping with gravel, vegetation, and other porous materials, to prevent flooding/ pooling of water in your house and your yard.
8. MAINTAIN SEPTIC SYSTEMS PROPERLY: Have you septic tank cleaned every 3-5 years. Having a poorly maintained septic system and contaminate ground water. And by keeping it maintained, your prolonging the life of the system.
9. RECYCLE USED MOTOR OIL: Again, do NOT pour motor oil down any drainage system! It can seep into ground water and contaminate it. Be smart, and take your used oil to an Eco system or your local sanitation system. Also, keep your car maintained to prevent leakage of hazardous materials.
10. BE GREEN WHEN WASHING YOUR CAR: When at home, use a bucket of soapy water, rags, and a hose. Turning off the house in between rinsing can save 150 gallons of water! Or, if you don't want to do it yourself, go to a car wash that reuses it's water.
11. HELP IDENTIFY, REPORT AND STOP POLLUTERS.
12. BE AN ACTIVIST.
IF YOU THINK OUR DRINKING WATER HAS SEVERE PROBLEMS, CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO ON THE PEOPLE OF AFRICA. THEY HAVE IT EXTREMELY WORSE THAN WE DO!
No comments:
Post a Comment