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Environmentally Safe Homes - Water

The water we drink, bath in and wash with can become polluted in a variety of ways. It's up to us to make sure we conserve our water and keep it clean.

Surface Water

Lakes, streams and reservoirs are all sources of surface water. Nearly one third of the United States depends on these for clean drinking water. And humans aren't the only ones who depend on surface water for survival; frogs, algae, fish and plants need clean water to live.

Unfortunately, surface water can easily become contaminated by fertilizer run-off from farms, soil erosion from land disturbance, human sewage and even detergents from your cloths washer. The impact of these pollutants on both wildlife and humans is both major and long-lasting.

You can help prevent the pollution of our surface water by making sure you use water in a sensible manor, and by using environmentally safe detergents and fertilizers.

Ground Water

Roughly fifty percent of the United States uses ground water as its primary source. Most ground water comes from municipal wells, although one in every seven homes has its own private well.

In the 1980's, problems with contaminated ground water became more and more noticeable. Contaminated ground water resulted from run off from land fills, toxic waste disposal, agricultural activities, and animal and human waste.

In addition, some areas are experiencing  problems with the supply of ground water. Some reservoirs are being depleted faster than they are being refilled.

It's always a good idea to filter and purify the water you drink. If you have a private well, you should have a water filtration systems in place between the pump and your home. If your home is supplied by a municipal utility, the utility will have water purification plants in place to make the water in your home safe.

Conserving Our Water

One important way to cut back on pollution is to simply use water in your home sensibly. A few common tips include:

• Using low-flow toilets. Many modern toilets are already designed to use less water. Older models may be modified with new flushing mechanisms, or simple by adding a gallon jug filled with water to the reservoir tank.
• Turn off the water when you're not using it. When brushing your teeth, shaving or performing other common activities, be sure to turn off the water when you're not actually using it.
• Fill the dishwasher. A dishwasher uses roughly nine to fifteen gallons for every cycle. Washing just a few plates or glasses is a waste of water.

Simply by reducing the amount of water you use in your home every day will have a big impact in the long run.