Protecting Our Waters: A Simple Strategy To Reduce Pollution

One way to minimize water pollution is to use a broom instead of a hose to clean off your driveway or sidewalk.

Use a broom instead of a hose to clean off your driveway or sidewalk

Water pollution is a serious problem. Many household chemicals can be safely recycled, and your community may have a recycling center that can take old paint, used motor oil, etc. and recycle them. Homeowners like to keep the yard looking green and healthy, but the desire for a green lawn can produce water pollution, as fertilizers and pesticides will inevitably run off the shrubs and grass into the water. Select landscaping that is adapted to the climate. Trees reduce erosion that washes pollution into the water.

Try to water only in the evening or very early morning to minimize evaporation. If you use porous pavement (gravel is a good example) instead of asphalt for driveways and walkways, the rain can recharge groundwater supplies instead of running off and contributing to erosion. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean off your driveway or sidewalk. Wash your car less often or wash it at a car wash where they clean and recycle the water. If you do wash your car at home, use a bucket of soapy water rather than running the hose. Keep a spring-loaded nozzle on the hose.

Wash your car less often or wash it at a car wash where they clean and recycle the water

Washing your car less often or visiting a car wash that recycles water is a great way to minimize water pollution.

If you do decide to wash your car at home, use a bucket of soapy water rather than running the hose. Keep a spring-loaded nozzle on the hose to minimize water usage.

Car washes that recycle water are a great way to minimize water pollution. These washes use less water than traditional car washes and also help to recycle water, which can be used for other purposes.

Another way to minimize water pollution is to water your lawn in the evening or very early morning to minimize evaporation. This will help to ensure that the water is used efficiently and will not contribute to water pollution.

Finally, if you have a driveway or sidewalk, consider using a broom instead of a hose to clean it. This will help to minimize water usage and will also help to keep your driveway or sidewalk clean without contributing to water pollution.

Use reusable, insulated containers to hold drinks and make your own filtered water at home

Homeowners like to keep the yard looking green and healthy, but the desire for a green lawn can produce water pollution, as fertilizers and pesticides will inevitably run off the shrubs and grass into the water. Select landscaping that is adapted to the climate. No matter where you live, there are bound to be attractive plants that can thrive with minimal help from added chemicals. This makes the plants cheaper to care for and you will waste less water keeping them alive. Trees reduce erosion that washes pollution into the water.

Try to water only in the evening or very early morning to minimize evaporation. If you use porous pavement (gravel is a good example) instead of asphalt for driveways and walkways, the rain can recharge groundwater supplies instead of running off and contributing to erosion. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean off your driveway or sidewalk. Wash your car less often or wash it at a car wash where they clean and recycle the water. If you do wash your car at home, use a bucket of soapy water rather than running the hose. Keep a spring-loaded nozzle on the hose.

Plastic bottles can last for hundreds of years in the ocean. Buy some reusable cloth or plastic grocery bags instead. They can often be purchased for as little as $1 each, so there is a minimal cost involved. Use reusable, insulated containers to hold drinks and make your own filtered water at home.

Many household chemicals can be safely recycled. Your community may have a recycling center that can take old paint, used motor oil, etc., and recycle them. Community collection centers and drop-off sites also exist in some areas. Bleach, paint, paint thinner, ammonia, and other household chemicals can contain dangerous contaminants and are becoming a serious problem. If you add up thousands of people every month dumping toxic chemicals down the drain or flushing them down the toilet, the impact quickly becomes significant.

Select landscaping that is adapted to the climate

Homeowners like to keep the yard looking green and healthy. However, the desire for a green lawn can produce water pollution, as fertilizers and pesticides will inevitably run off the shrubs and grass into the water. To minimize water pollution, select landscaping that is adapted to the climate. No matter where you live, there are bound to be attractive plants that can thrive with minimal help from added chemicals. This makes the plants cheaper to care for and you will waste less water keeping them alive. Trees reduce erosion that washes pollution into the water. You can volunteer your time in a local tree-planting effort.

Try to water only in the evening or very early morning to minimize evaporation

Watering in the evening or very early morning is a great way to minimize water pollution. This is because evaporation is less likely to occur during these times, meaning that more water will be absorbed by the plants and less will run off into the water supply.

When you are watering your plants, it is important to water deeply and less frequently to encourage the roots to grow deeper into the soil. This will also help to reduce the amount of water that runs off and pollutes the water supply.

In addition to watering in the evening or very early morning, you can also use a drip irrigation system to minimize water pollution. This system will deliver water directly to the base of the plant and reduce the amount of water that runs off and pollutes the water supply.

You can also use a rain barrel to collect rainwater and use it to water your plants. This will reduce the amount of water that you need to use and minimize water pollution.

Finally, you can also use a porous pavement instead of asphalt for driveways and walkways. This will allow the rain to recharge groundwater supplies instead of running off and contributing to erosion.

Frequently asked questions