| Pollution can happen from many different sources. | | | | and chemicals they acquire as a bi-product of the |
| Your local water supply can be slightly or fully | | | | manufacturing process. Properly disposing of this |
| affected by a variety of sources and in a variety of | | | | waste can make the difference between a local |
| ways. Many people are under the impression that if | | | | pollution problem and disease and a healthy, clean |
| their local county filters the water than it must be | | | | water source. "Other industrial sources of |
| safe and clean. However, many contaminants are | | | | contamination include cleaning off holding tanks or |
| able to pass through the filtering process, such as | | | | spraying equipment on the open ground, disposing of |
| some medicines, plastic particles, and chemicals. | | | | waste in septic systems or dry wells, and storing |
| Reducing the pollutants in our water is the only way | | | | hazardous materials in uncovered areas or in areas |
| to make our water truly safer. Here are some | | | | that do not have pads with drains or catchment |
| common sources of pollutants and what we can do | | | | basins." |
| about them. | | | | It is important to realize that not all pollution is due to |
| The biggest concern for residential contaminants is | | | | man. Sometimes, pollution occurs because of natural |
| when people don't dispose of paints, medicines, | | | | compounds found in the rocks and soil around the |
| solvents, cleaning products, pool chemicals, oils, | | | | water source. When water filters through the ground |
| pesticides, batteries, gasoline, etc. improperly. When | | | | it picks up the substances present in the soil. Some |
| these things are poured down the drain, buried in | | | | locations have high levels of magnesium, calcium, or |
| your yard, or dumped in the trash they directly | | | | arsenic present in their water because these |
| impact the water quality in your area. Hazardous | | | | substances can be found in the local rock and soil |
| materials need to be disposed of in a safe manner to | | | | deposits. Saltwater is another common contaminant |
| keep them from contaminating local water sources. | | | | that can pollute ground water sources if it |
| Many localities offer hazardous waste pick up | | | | encroaches to far inland from the sea. California is |
| locations on certain dates or have a designated place | | | | currently faced with this problem as several water |
| for them at the local dump. | | | | sources are no longer usable because of saltwater. |
| Agricultural and industrial contaminants are another | | | | While many people are recognizing the danger of |
| major source of pollution. "Pesticides, fertilizers, | | | | polluted water sources and are taking steps to |
| herbicides, and animal waste are agricultural sources | | | | reduce contamination in their area, keeping the water |
| of groundwater contamination." Industrial waste is | | | | clean is everyone's problem and everyone needs to |
| something I am very familiar with because my | | | | help out in whatever way they can in order to keep |
| husband works in manufacturing. He and his | | | | our water clean. |
| colleagues must be very careful with the used water | | | | |