3 Easy Ways to Keep Our Water Supplies Clean & Safe
The water we use for drinking and bathing never gets a whole lot of attention – until something goes wrong with it. Fortunately, it’s easy for all of us to do our part in helping to keep the water in our lakes, rivers and the ground safe for use now and in the future.
Tri-Florida Water Treatment of Auburndale, FL, would like to share three strategies we can use to keep stuff from our daily lives from entering local water supplies.
1. Use And Dispose Of Hazardous Materials Correctly
Read product labels and check with local water safety groups (see below) to learn the right ways to dispose of toxic substances such as:
- Cleaning solutions with bleach, ammonia and other harmful chemicals
- Motor oil, gasoline, antifreeze, transmission fluid, brake fluid and other vehicle fluids
- Electronics, particularly phone, computer and printer parts
- Lawn-care products like fertilizers and pesticides
- Household bug sprays
- Prescription and over-the-counter medications
These and other hazardous materials can move through the ground and right into our water supplies. Make sure you know the right ways to dispose of them.
2. Maintain The Septic System
If you use a septic system, keep the tank pumped out and the system working correctly to avoid backups that send waste into nearby soil, where it can seep into source water.
- Good septic system maintenance includes:
- Regular pumping to avoid leakage
- Annual inspections of the overall system
- Timely repairs when needed
3. Animal Waste Disposal
Over time, droppings from domestic animals can find their way into the ground and into our water. This waste often contains a variety of pathogens and fecal coliforms that are known to be hazardous to humans.
The best way to remove this material from our environment is to scoop it up and deposit it into the toilet. You can also seal it in a bag and add it to your weekly garbage for collection. It’s a little extra work, but it’s much better than just leaving it in the yard to break down.
Where To Learn More
We all have access to local and national agencies, committees and organizations that are engaged in safe-water practices and can provide lots of useful information. Check with the following:
- County offices
- Bureau of Land Management
- Forestry Service
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Farmer and landowner organizations
- Garbage and refuse disposal companies
What about water purification systems?
A good water treatment system in your home will definitely remove the pollutants and contaminants often found in water from municipal sources, from which most homes in Florida get their water.
There are many options for filtering household water, including charcoal filters and whole-house reverse osmosis systems. Any quality system will dramatically reduce the levels of potentially harmful substances in your drinking water.
But just because we clean and purify our own water doesn’t mean we should be any less diligent in helping to keep all the water safe for everyone. So use the guidelines above and check with the resources given for more tips and information.
If you’ve been thinking of moving up to a cleaner, healthier water treatment system for your home, contact a water expert at Tri-Florida Water Treatment by phone, or use our handy contact form.