Protecting Drinking Water Resources
by Viviana Puello
A lot is happening in the world with our water resources, and water crises in many locations are prompting people to think outside the box, save water from rain and look for ways to preserve such valuable and needed resources. When Water treatment is not an option, like in cases when the water has been contaminated, the water resource can get ruined forever. Prevention is always better and cheaper than the cure. It is cheaper to keep the water clean than to treat the water after being contaminated. For example, in 2010, an oil spill took place in eastern Ontario, costing approximately 1 million dollars to clean up, an expense that could have been avoided if preventive measures had been taken. So we will discuss how we as an individual can prevent these resources from being contaminated.
Following are some steps you can take to keep water resources clean in your area:
Water conservation
- Practice water conservation.
- Use rainwater for your gardens.
- Install low-pressure nulls and shower.
- Fix the leakage in the pipes.
Use green products
- For lawn.
- For personal use.
- For home.
Proper Ways of Handling and Disposing of Waste.
- Firstly, you can reduce your waste production.
- Please keep the waste in the right place; organic and chemical waste should go in separate containers and then hand it over to the waste management authorities.
- Use waste collection programs in your area.
- Pick the pet waste and dispose of it off correctly.
Properly maintain and use septic systems
- Protect your septic beds from damage.
- After every 3-5 years, have the tank pumped out.
- Conserve water
- Avoid using bleach cleaning products
Properly maintain wells
- Test your water regularly.
- Inspect your wells.
- Keep the livestock and other wastes away from the well.
- Keep testing the well’s water.
Avoid or limit the use of road salt in winter
- Practice innovative salt applications.
- Use sand.
- Wear sturdy footwear.
- And switch to snow tires.
Urge others and protect water
- Urge your friends and family to do the same as you are doing to save the resources.
Convey the information to your community and work together to prevent the contamination of water resources.
