To Improve Your Water Stewardship:
1. Stop drinking bottled water.
Send a message to your community by getting off the bottle. Bottled water is an unnecessary and harmful product. It is drawn from sources that compete with the needs of local ecosystems. The plastic bottles produce large quantities of solid waste and the whole bottled water industry creates extensive pollution and road wear through shipping. From start to finish, bottled water production produces enormous quantities of greenhouse gasses. It also pushes the boundary of water as a public commons and begs the question of the privatization of water.
With the high quality municipal water system we have, there is no good reason for residents of Guelph-Wellington to drink bottled water. Set a precedent by refusing to buy bottled water and tell others to do the same.
2. Landscape for water efficiency.
Water stewardship in your yard and garden is an important but often overlooked aspect of local water stewardship. For most of us, just a slight change in the way we care for our property can have great impact on our local water resources. The key is to remain conscious in your use of water and to remember that you are making an impact on your local aquifer, however insignificant it may seem.
Some suggestions to make your property more water friendly are:
- avoid paving your drive and walkways to reduce water run off into the sewer system
- use gravel to allow for proper drainage
- plant trees and other native vegetation to create micro water capture areas that help to recharge the aquifer
- always provide lots of cooling and shade in your yard and try not to water your lawn.
3. Install two water barrels per house.
Every home should have at least two water barrels to collect enough rainwater to keep gardens and potted plants healthy, while conserving municipal water for other uses.
4. Get involved.
Help to restore and maintain your local water system by joining Local River clean up teams or by planting trees in your watershed area. Promote watershed nature walks in your area and visit OPIRG.
5. Let the Government know how you feel.
Write your local city councilors, MP’s, and MPP’s to encourage them to push for more sustainable development initiatives and policies that allow for the protection of aquifer recharge areas, wetlands, and water sources.
Ask your municipality to cut down on salt applications on roadways. They are often excessive and can be replaced by proactive liquid treatments.
6. Take action in your home.
Try to install water conservation devises in you home, including low flow toilets, showerheads and taps. If this is not possible, simply limit your water use by taking shorter showers, limiting the use of water intensive appliances like dishwashers and washing machines, and always make sure taps and faucets are properly shut off.
7. Pick up after your pets.
The waste left behind by your pets during walks, even in natural areas, can enter the aquifer and contribute to poor water quality. Picking up after your pets is a great way to contribute to the conservation of our water resources.
8. Take care of your car.
Maintaining your vehicle and ensuring that there are no fluid leaks is vital to good water stewardship. Leaks find their way into streams and rivers through run off and via the sewer system and poison our water reserves. Having your car serviced regularly helps to minimize the damage to our aquifer caused by automobiles and will keep your car running smoothly and save you money in the long run.
Washing your car less is another way to protect our local water reserves. Cutting back on your car washes will save more of our water for other uses and helps control chemical runoff into our sewer system. Do not wash your car at home. Car washes are a more environmentally friendly alternative because they have grease traps, which prevent leakages from entering the local water system and they recycle much of the water they use.
9. Use your water softener less.
Excessive cycling of home water softeners is causing major ecological damage through increased salination of our rivers. If you can, make the switch to Potassium Chloride softeners, which are much less damaging to the river systems.
10. Never dump Solvents down the drain.
These chemicals kill fish and other aquatic species and are a major threat to our water systems. Take these products to hazardous waste facilities for proper disposal.
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