It covers 70% of the Earth, makes up about 60% of the human body and is the foundation of life for almost all living things. What is it? You guessed it: water. Water is vital to our existence and to our wellbeing, but in recent decades pollution and other harmful practices have consistently damaged the water we live by, drink and cook with.
Needless to say, clean water is important. During a month when everyone is out enjoying lakes, rivers, oceans and having tall glasses of ice-cold water, it becomes even more apparent how important quality water is. This August, we celebrate National Water Quality Month. How can you have an impact on water quality? We’ve got some ideas for the role you play in making a difference.
Avoid flushing medications.
Avoid flushing any old or unused medications down your toilet at home or down the sink. Pipes can lead back into a general water source which then gets contaminated with your medication.
Don’t hose off the driveway.
Always sweep your driveway to keep it clean, rather than hosing it off. When washing your car, use a commercial car wash whenever possible rather than doing it yourself at home. When chemicals run down your driveway into the storm drain they flow directly into lakes and streams.
Pick up after your pooch.
Seriously, people. When it rains, that water picks up poop particles from your pooch and can then go into different water systems. We can speak for everybody when we say that nobody wants that!
Watch out for litter.
We all know to avoid littering, but go a step further and keep an eye out for any litter wherever you go. Whenever possible, pick it up and put it in the proper disposable bin.
Stop overusing chemicals.
Pesticides and fertilizers can have a proper use, but avoid overusing them whenever possible. The chemicals can travel through runoff water and soil, thus contaminating groundwater.
Help save our lakes and rivers by choosing nontoxic household products, and using phosphate-free items like detergent.
Join a cleanup project.
If you want to go a step beyond preventative care, be proactive by joining a local or national clean up project that works on our beaches, streams or wetlands. Many governmental or nonprofit organizations often have events or projects that focus on enhancing the quality of local water sources. See how you can get involved and give back to make sure that your and everyone’s water is clean.
Finally, take some time this month to educate yourself on what’s actually in your water, the quality of your water and how it can further be improved. Knowledge is power, and the more knowledgeable you are, the more you can make a difference.
Water sustains life. Therefore, it’s vitally important to all of us. This August, celebrate National Water Quality Month by being aware of your water habits and taking steps to ensure clean water for everyone. When we have clean water, we can lead satisfying lives.
Inafunika 70% ya dunia, inaunda karibu 60% ya mwili wa binadamu, na ni msingi wa maisha kwa karibu viumbe vyote hai. Ni nini hicho? Ulipiga mbinu: maji. Maji ni muhimu kwa uhai wetu na ustawi wetu, lakini katika miongo ya hivi karibuni uchafuzi na mazoea mengine mabaya yamekuwa yakiharibu maji tunayoishi, kunywa na kupika. Bila shaka, maji safi ni muhimu. Katika mwezi ambapo kila mtu ni nje kufurahia maziwa, mito, bahari na kuwa na glasi ndefu ya maji baridi barafu, inakuwa hata wazi zaidi jinsi muhimu ubora wa maji ni. Agosti hii, tunasherehekea Mwezi wa Kitaifa wa Ubora wa Maji. Unawezaje kuathiri ubora wa maji? Tuna baadhi ya mawazo kwa ajili ya jukumu wewe kucheza katika kufanya tofauti. Epuka kutumia dawa za kuondoa damu. Usitumie dawa za zamani au zisizotumika kwenye choo chako au sinki. Mabomba yanaweza kuongoza nyuma katika chanzo cha maji ya jumla ambayo kisha hupatikana kuchafuliwa na dawa yako. Usitumie mfereji wa maji kwenye barabara. Sikuzote punguza barabara yako ili iendelee kuwa safi, badala ya kuifuta kwa mfereji. Wakati wa kuosha gari lako, tumia mashine ya kuosha gari ya kibiashara iwezekanavyo badala ya kufanya hivyo mwenyewe nyumbani. Wakati kemikali kutiririka chini ya driveway yako katika mfereji wa dhoruba wao mtiririko moja kwa moja katika maziwa na vijito. Kuchukua baada ya pooch yako. Kwa kweli, watu. Mvua inapopiga, maji huchukua vipande vya kinyesi kutoka kwa mbwa wako na kisha yanaweza kwenda kwenye mifumo tofauti ya maji. Tunaweza kusema kwa niaba ya kila mtu tunaposema kwamba hakuna mtu anayetaka hivyo! Jihadharini na uchafu. Kwa hivyo, kama unajua jinsi ya kuepuka kutupa taka, fanya hatua ya juu zaidi na uangalie kila kitu ambacho unaweza kupata. Ikiwezekana, ichukue na kuiweka katika chombo kinachofaa cha kutumiwa mara moja. Acha kutumia kemikali kupita kiasi. Dawa za kuua wadudu na mbolea zaweza kutumiwa ifaavyo, lakiniiepuka kuzitumia kupita kiasi inapowezekana. Kemikali hizo zinaweza kupita katika maji na udongo, na hivyo kuchafua maji ya chini ya ardhi. Kuokoa maziwa na mito kwa kuchagua bidhaa za nyumbani zisizo na sumu na kutumia bidhaa zisizo na phosphate kama vile detergent. Kujiunga na mradi wa kusafisha. Ikiwa unataka kwenda hatua zaidi ya huduma ya kuzuia, kuwa proactive kwa kujiunga na mradi wa kusafisha wa ndani au wa kitaifa ambao hufanya kazi kwenye fukwe zetu, vijito au maeneo ya mvua. Mashirika mengi ya serikali au yasiyo ya faida mara nyingi huwa na matukio au miradi ambayo inazingatia kuboresha ubora wa vyanzo vya maji vya mitaa. Angalia jinsi unaweza kuhusika na kutoa nyuma ili kuhakikisha kwamba maji yako na kila mtu ni safi. Mwishowe, chukua muda mwezi huu kujielimisha juu ya nini kweli ni katika maji yako, ubora wa maji yako na jinsi inaweza zaidi kuboreshwa. Ujuzi ni nguvu, na kadiri unavyojua zaidi, ndivyo unavyoweza kufanya tofauti. Maji huendeleza uhai. Kwa hiyo, ni muhimu sana kwa sisi sote. Agosti hii, sherehe ya mwezi wa ubora wa maji ya kitaifa kwa kuwa na ufahamu wa tabia yako ya maji na kuchukua hatua za kuhakikisha maji safi kwa kila mtu. Tunapokuwa na maji safi, tunaweza kuishi maisha yenye kuridhisha.