What Can You Do To Protect Drinking Water? PDF Print E-mail
Conserve Water – Not only is conserving water helpful to maintaining a constant supply of drinking water, too little water in a source can mean contaminants are more concentrated and, therefore, may be above acceptable levels.

Be an avid recycler - Recycling paper products, glass, metals and plastics cuts down on pollution and also reduces the amount of water we use. Manufacturing recycled paper uses 58% less water than making paper from virgin wood pulp. Making glass from recycled materials cuts related air pollution 20% and water pollution 50%.

Dispose of hazardous waste properly - Take unused paints, cleaners, pesticides, and medical prescriptions to your local hazardous waste facility. Take used engine oil to recycling facilities. Use drop cloths or tarps when working with hazardous materials such as paints, driveway sealers or wood stain to prevent spills from leaking into the ground. If a spill occurs, clean it up with an absorbent material such as kitty litter or sawdust and scoop the contaminant into a container.

Use non-toxic products - Always try to use environmentatlly-friendly cleaning products and soaps, shampoos and personal care products. Remember that what you use in your house goes back down your drain.

Clean up pet waste - Pet waste contains nutrients and pathogens that can run into storm sewers during a rain storm.

Reduce/elimiate use of lawn chemicals - Prevent pollutants from entering into runoff by reducing or eliminating the use of pesticides, fertilizers, sidewalk salts and by not over-watering your lawn. If you run an agricultural operation and haven’t already, consider developing and implementing a Nutrient Management Plan.

Use toxic products with care - Take care when refueling gas tanks for cars, lawn mowers, chainsaws, weed trimmers, tractors or other machinery to avoid spilling fuel on the ground. Also take care when changing engine oil. One litre of gas or oil can contaminate a million litres of groundwater.

Watch your run-off - Take your car to commercial car washes designed to prevent pollutant runoff from entering storm sewers. Use commercial car washes that use water efficient sprays, reducing their water consumption.

Stay informed - get involved in the source protection process.  Join our Drinking Water Sources mailing list and stay up to date on the latest activities of the CTC Source Protection Committee.