How to Do Your Bit for Cleaner Water

As concerns over the environment get pushed further into center-stage, people all over the world are starting to think more seriously about what they can do to help. There are plenty of things you can do at home to do your bit for the environment, such as recycling, growing fruit and vegetables in your gardens or allotment, moving to smart thermostats and appliances, and so on. These are all great places to start, but if one of your biggest worries is about what is happening to the world’s oceans and rivers, below are some tips on how you can do your bit to fight for cleaner water.

Reduce the Use of Plastic

When talking about water pollution, one of the most common things you might hear about is how much plastic is found in the ocean. This is terrible as a lot of marine life can get caught in plastic bags, netting, or the plastic yokes used to keep cans together. Fish and other sea creatures can also swallow pieces of plastic which clogs their intestines and kills them. If you want to try and help the Earth’s water become cleaner, the first place to start is by reducing your plastic waste or try to use plant-based plastics instead if you must.

Oil Traps

Another thing you need to be aware of is how oils can spill into storm drains, rivers, etc., and this will pollute the water. If you have surplus motor oil, don’t just pour it down the drain! Take it to a certified center that recycles it, and make sure it is put in a sealed container and hasn’t been mixed with any other kinds of oils. If you own a manufacturing business or know somebody who does, you can also suggest that they use an oil and water separator if they don’t already reduce their water pollution.

Use Eco-friendly Pesticides and Fertilizer

When it comes to maintaining a beautiful garden, you’ll occasionally need to use pesticides and fertilizers to help your garden grow. However, certain chemicals in these products can harm water as well as your soil if you’re not careful. It can affect the water because when you’re washing down your garden paths, these trace chemicals can be transferred to the waterways via your storm drains. Look at eco-friendly products for your garden instead to avoid pollution.

Think About What You’re Flushing Down the Toilet

The obvious things you flush down a toilet are just fine but think again before you start flushing away any kind of trash. A lot of people might toss things like makeup wipes, condoms, tampons, pads, hair, and even cigarette butts into their toilet bowl and flush it all down without a second thought, but all of these items cause problems. Not only do they pollute water, but they can also clog up your pipes and wreak havoc with septic tanks – so unless it’s pee, poop, or toilet paper, don’t flush it down! Use a trash can for that stuff instead.

If you want to do your bit to help improve the planet’s waterways, these are all simple things you can do at home.