Keep Your Water Clean and Green!
by The Earth Organization
Help prevent contaminants from getting back into your glass.
It's easy to keep the water green and clean!
One of the biggest problems with our freshwater systems is
the amount of contaminants that go into our drains. People often forget that
what goes down, must come up, and in this case that means onto our beaches or
back into our tap water. Here are 7 simple things you can do to help prevent
pollution runoff into your water system:
1) Dispose of Hazardous Household Products Correctly:
paints, polishes, pool chemicals, insecticides and cleaning solutions all
contain hazardous substances such as
sodium hypochlorite, petroleum distillates, phenol and cresol, ammonia and
formaldehyde. A single quart of motor oil that seeps into groundwater can
pollute 250,000 gallons of drinking water! Instead of pouring them down your
sink or toilet, find a nearby hazardous waste collection site, often they are
located near the local landfill, like
this one in Arizona.
2) Recycle and
Dispose of All Trash Properly: Dont flush non-biodegradable items down the
toilet. The blockage that the items causes damage to the sewer treatment
process and they end up on our shorelines and beaches.
3) Conserve Water: It is estimated that 73% of the household
water is flushed down the toilet or washed down the drain in the sink and
shower. If possible, buy eco-friendly plumbing fixtures that use less water per
flush or use. Place a brick or full water bottle in your toilet tank to save
nearly 4 gallons of water with each flush! Make sure to repair leaks and turn
water off to prevent dripping. Sweep your driveway and sidewalk instead of
spraying it down with the hose.
4) Use Natural Fertilizer: In your yard try bone meal,
manure or peat instead of carcinogenic fertilizers. For the ultimate in
recycling, make a compost pile for your garden. Compost decreases the need for
other fertilizers and helps the soil retain its moisture. Dont know how to
compost? Visit How To Compost for
all the facts! Using these safe fertilizers prevents harmful chemicals from
draining into the ground and sewers when you are watering your yard.
5) Avoid Over-Watering Your Lawn and Garden: Instead of
using large, manual sprinklers, try timed sprinklers that ensure you wont
forget about it running all day. Another option is drip-irrigation, which is a
great way to minimize the amount of water used and maximizes the amount of
water absorbed. Check out The Drip Store
for some great facts and benefits of drip irrigation!
6) Green Cleaning Your Vehicle: When washing your car, make
sure to have a spray handle at the end of the hose to prevent unnecessary water
waste. Having the hose off between uses saves up to 150 gallons of water! Even better, fill a bucket with water and
use a sponge to wash your car.
7) Native Landscaping: Choose plants and grasses that are
native and adapted to your area and climate. These types of plants are
resistant to your local pests and weather changes and therefore require less
water and fertilizer. Who needs the extra work anyways?
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