Green Daily

While researching water pollution and how humans impact it and keeping track of my own practices at habits at home, I've come up with the following five ways that all of us can take steps to curb contaminants in our H2O. They are not innovative. You may have heard them all before. But a reminder can't hurt. And if they're news to you, soak 'em in.

Here they are:

1) Stop buying bottled water and use a filter to clean out common pollutants. Plastic bottle recycling is a sham. And it often contains the same crap as tap.

2) Be aware of what you put down the drain and in the toilet or trash. Practice proper disposal of potential water polluters such as household cleaners and consider using alternative methods.

3) Know what's going in your gutter. Any chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides applied to lawns or other outdoor areas don't just dissolve and disappear. They run off and into the gutter and into the storm drains and into the ocean and into our water supply. Yuck. There are other options.

4) Pick up after your pet. Sure, poop is organic. And biodegradable. But if you don't pick it up, the next rain will wash it into the gutters and the bacteria in it can do damage to our water supply. Do you want to drink what's in your dog's poop?

5) Use earth-friendly products. Most conventional brands of dish and laundry detergents, soaps, and cleaners contain pollutants and carcinogens that harm the environment, regardless of whether they smell like flowers or green tea or are advertised as the next great Green product. Buyer beware. Kinder options include Ecover or Seventh Generation.

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