Consumers are being urged to take some simple steps on National Protect Your
Groundwater Day, Sept. 14, to help make sure water sources are protected.
The National Ground Water Assn. (NWGA) offers suggestions at ngwa.org/public/PYGD/pygd.aspx. To be able to prevent contamination, consumers need to be aware of common contamination sources in their households, such as cleaning products, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, etc., and learn how to dispose of them properly, according to NWGA. Proactive protection efforts are much more cost-effective than clean-up efforts. Among the association’s suggestions:
• Do not pour chemicals down the drain or on the ground; take to a hazardous waste collection;
• Take used motor oil to a recycling center;
• Do not flush medications or personal care items down the toilet, mix with coffee grounds and put in the trash;
• Check for leaky faucets, and have them fixed;
• Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator;
• Shut off the water while brushing your teeth;
• Take shorter showers;
• Run a full load of dishes and laundry;
• Water lawn and plants only as needed; and
• Install rain barrels.
In addition, the Water Quality Assn. offers free online diagnosis tools that let consumers figure out what might be affecting the quality of their water. They are available at wqa.org. In the Find a Water Professional program, local certified professionals can be found for consultation. There is also a “Diagnose Your Water” button that provides information on possible problems.
