Home Living
Protecting Your Home Water Quality
By

Home Health
Protecting Home Health Water Quality

Most of us are unaware of the water quality degradation associated with storm water runoff. Household and garden pesticides are carried into streams, rivers, and lakes by storm water runoff, and are a major source of pollution. Unless polluted runoff is controlled, we face an overall decline in water quality. The following information can help all of us keep our water safe to drink.

1) Take potentially harmful products such as used batteries, motor oil, leftover paint, bug spray, weed killers and some household cleaners to proper household hazardous waste collection centers. At the same time, look for healthier alternatives to hazardous products because what you throw in the trash, pour down the drain, or dump on the ground can eventually get into water supplies.

2) Plan low-water-use grasses and shrubs to cut your lawn watering by 20-50%. In many areas of the country, 50-70% of household water is used outdoors for watering lawns and gardens.

3) Remember to always start with cold water and heat it on the stove or in the microwave for cooking or drinking. Lead can get into drinking water from lead solder and pipes used in household plumbing. Because hot water more easily absorbs lead, never use water from the hot water tap to prepare baby formula, food, or drinks.

4) Replace old, inefficient water fixtures and appliances with their state-of-the-art counterparts to save water, energy and money. Low-flow shower heads, toilets, and water-efficient appliances can save hundreds or even thousands of gallons of water each year. Install low-flow fixtures and encourage your family, friends, and co-workers to do the same.

5) Spread the word on using pesticides and fertilizers sparingly and learn to use natural methods for gardening and lawn care. Pesticides, weed killers, and fertilizers used on home gardens and lawns can get into your drinking water source. As rainwater passes down through the ground, it takes these chemicals with it and can contaminate water.

6) Give water a hand by supporting local, state, and national measures to protect watersheds and groundwater. Preventing watersheds and groundwater from becoming contaminated is healthier from the start and requires less treatment to make water safe to drink.

7) Make a difference by joining a community group that is working to improve and safeguard water quality. Concerned citizens pooling their time and talent have been known to move industries, communities and
Congress to better protect our water sources.

8) Practice environmental actions to reduce, reuse and recycle. Although water is most often seen as blue, it’s part of the whole green environmental effort.

9) Spread the word for water every chance you get. Discussing water quality issues with family, friends and co-workers can clean up a lot. The more people know about how to conserve and protect our water, the better off we’ll all be.


© Copyright 2004-2007 by ColoradoHomeLoans.com