Life is dependent on water, and without water no form of life can survive. But it is hard to believe that even after knowing such a fundamental truth, how people can turn a blind eye to water pollution. Every year thousands and thousands of people, especially children, fall prey to water-borne diseases, and nearly half of them die. Water pollution is a serious issue as not only is water the most precious natural resource, but all sources of water support life that is very necessary for the survival of the planet. Water pollution destroys life and ecology and such damage is irreparable. Those who are still not serious about water pollution must also remember that the pollutants present in water not only destroy the life in the rivers and oceans, but also affect our food chain. Many people have the wrong notion that since they are not disposing the pollutants in the water they are not to blame. These people forget that 70% of the earth is covered by water, and any activity on the land can wash to the seas and oceans. Ultimately, you need to understand that preventing water pollution is to our benefit, and to the benefit of the life around us. So, it is imperative that each one works towards reducing pollutants for safe and pure water.
Water Pollution Prevention
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Don’t dispose paints, oils, polish and any cleaning products in the toilet, sink or down the drain. You should also store them properly, so that these types of products do not come in contact with water, even accidentally.
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Do not throw trash in any water body or near those places. If you litter in any such place, then make sure that you collect them and throw them in the bin. You should also ensure that other people also do not spread litter. Otherwise, the litter will end up in the sewers and ultimately in the seas and lakes.
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Adopt a recycling lifestyle. You should also use environment-friendly household products that can be recycled. Such products ensure minimal wastage and thus help in keeping the environment clean and unsoiled.
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For your garden and plants use organic fertilizers and pesticides. Also don’t overwater the lawns and gardens. In this way pollutants cannot get into the systems due to runoffs.
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Maintain your vehicle so as to prevent any leakages. Oils and other toxic fluids like antifreeze from automobiles are also a major cause of water pollution.
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Ensure that your town has proper sewage treatment plants so that most of the household and industrial wastes can be treated instead of dumping them in the rivers or lakes.
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Avoid water wastage. Make sure that there are no drips and leakages in the house plumbing. Saving water will ultimately lead to the reduction of water that flows into the sewage treatment.
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Instead of washing your car in the driveway, it is better to send the car to a commercial car wash. In this way the pollutants from the car do not enter the storm water drains.
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Every three to five years, inspect the septic system to check if the waste seeps out.
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When watering the garden, do it with a bucket and mug instead of using a hose. Also, it is better to sweep the driveway instead of hosing it down. In this way, along with saving water you will also prevent the polluted water from running to drains or nearby water source.
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Clean the pet waste so that you do not leave it in the open. Pet waste is also a form of water pollution.
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Always use laundry detergents that have low levels of phosphate, as phosphate is a major water pollutant.