Simple Steps to Prevent Water Pollution

How Much Water Are We Using?

Source: United States EPA

• To flush a toilet - 5 to 7 gallons
• To run a dishwasher - 15 to 25 gallons
• To wash dishes by hand - 20 gallons
• To water a small lawn - 35 gallons
• To take a shower - 25 to 50 gallons
• To take a bath - 50 gallons
• To wash a small load of clothes in a washing machine - 35 gallons
• To brush teeth with the water running continuously - 2 to 5 gallons

Simple Things You Can You Do If You Live In A City?

You can help, even if you are an apartment dweller.

1. Never dump anything into city street drains.
2. Check your vehicle for any leaks that could pollute waterways when flushed down city drains.
3. Recycle your motor oil.
4. Pick up after your pets.
5. Wash your vehicle at a car wash, not in your driveway.
6. Consider planting a Rain Garden. They can be any size you like - small or large - and they help stop pollution from stormwater runoff. Check them out!
7. Be sure to use cleaning products that are certified biodegradable. Read the labels and don't use anything that has chlorine or ammonia in it (or any ingredient that starts with chlor).
   
   

   All those ingredients get washed down the drain and guess where they end up? Yup - rivers, lakes, streams, oceans...not good.

Simple Steps To Take Around The House

Low Cost, Big Impact!

• Replace shower heads with water-saving models.
• Don't let water run while you are washing or brushing your teeth and you'll save up to five gallons of water.
• Only run your dishwashing and washing machine with full loads. Try using the quick cycle on your dishwasher.
• If you can't replace your toilet with a low-flow model (the best idea but more expensive), place a water-filled plastic bottle in your toilet tank. It will displace the water in the tank, thereby using less water per flush.
• Invest in a water filtration system instead of buying bottled drinking water. I use the Pur brand but I've had Brita, as well. Both are inexpensive and work well.

Still More Simple Tips

1. Use a sink strainer to keep food scraps from going down the sink drain.
2. Put cooking fats and oils in the trash, not down the drain.
3. Use biodegradable and phosphate free cleaners or try natural cleaners like vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and lemon instead. There are many recipes for cleaners using these natural products. They're much less expensive, as well.
4. Help clean up litter when you see it on the beaches or in parks and other public places.
5. Recycle the oil from your vehicles. Many car repair businesses will accept your used oil for recycling.
6. Don't dump unwanted prescriptions down the toilet or the drain. Most pharmacies will accept your unwanted medicines.