Keep Your Water Clean and Green!

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?

Original Article: Keep Your Water Clean and Green!