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Now that you know that we all contribute to
pollution of our water ecosystems, you also know that we can all
play a part in preventing further pollution. Below is a list of
practical steps we can take to keep our daily conveniences from
making life harder for our aquatic life--and ultimately for ourselves.
Remember that a polluted stream or river ultimately travels to a
drinking supply or source of recreation or food.
- Instead of throwing
pet waste, tree branches and leaves into street gutters, bag it
and take it to an area that is not near water.
- If possible, try natural
fertilizers and pesticides. If you don't have a store that sells
natural products, use as little chemical fertilizer or pesticide
as you can.
- Rather than flushing household
cleaners, oil or grease down the drain, find out how your city
provides for their disposal. If you have a septic tank, these
substances can also interfere with its regular cleaning process.
- If you are changing brake
fluid, oil, antifreeze or any other auto fluid, line some towels
or old blankets in front of the car so the fluids won't run down
an incline and into the street, where they could eventually find
their way into local streams and rivers.
- Plant trees or ground cover
plants in your yard to minimize erosion on your property.
- Get involved with a local
river assembly, such as the ones mentioned in Focus On...Water
Quality. For more information about how to get involved, go
to the River
Network.org.
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