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5 Ways to Reduce Groundwater Contamination in Your Home
When you say the word groundwater, you most likely imagine a vast underground river or lake that is pure and pristine, and flowing from distant places.
However, this is not the reality.
Groundwater moves slowly through the earth’s pores and cracks, and it gets replenished locally.
Groundwater is the most important source of our drinking water as it is the most available fresh water we have. Unfortunately, due to human neglect and carelessness, many of our groundwater sources are vulnerable and threatened.
The contamination of groundwater can last for years and can be complicated and costly to clean up. For this reason, pollution prevention is critical.
Here are five ways to reduce groundwater contamination in your home.
1. Understand the causes of groundwater contamination.
Before you can set about reducing the contamination, it is essential that you understand its sources and what causes it.
There are two main types of sources through which pollutants enter the water environment:
- Point sources: An individual, identifiable origin of pollution, usually a pipe or a drain through which an impurity enters the water. These point sources include industrial plants, commercial businesses or wastewater treatment plants.
- Non-point sources: Sources that have inputs and consequences which transpire over a broad area, usually a result of particular land usages. For example, agricultural runoffs, urban runoffs, and atmospheric deposition.
- Causes of groundwater contamination include:
- Direct causes such as hazardous waste and landfills
- Indirect causes such as petroleum fuels and atmospheric pollutants
- Human-made causes such as chemicals and pesticide
- Natural causes such as animal waste and arsenic
If you do find yourself with contaminated groundwater, environmental engineers tend to prefer to clean up contaminants with the purest and highest-quality sodium permanganate product for groundwater and soil remediation.
2. Manage your waste.
The human-made causes of groundwater contamination should be the easiest to diminish precisely because they are human-made. Your household can do its part by ensuring that potentially toxic substances like unused chemicals, motor oil, pharmaceuticals and other materials are properly disposed of.
Never drop chemicals down your drains or leave them on the ground.
Many communities have hazardous waste sites, so if you are unsure where your closest one is, speak with your local health department.
If you are doing construction in your home, ensure you are using reliable inflatable packers to confine specific zones for testing.
3. Keep things natural.
Every household should be using fewer chemicals around the home and the garden. You want to be using all-natural household cleaners as much as possible.
And they don’t have to break the bank.
Substances such as baking soda, lemon juice and vinegar are fabulous and useful cleaning products, they are inexpensive, and they are environment-friendly. A win-win for everyone.
Additionally, in your garden, look to use native plants. Not only do they look beautiful, but they do not require much water or fertilizer. Make sure you have grass varieties for your lawn that are appropriate for your region’s climate, reducing the necessity for excessive watering or chemical applications.
4. Engage with your community.
You cannot save the world on your own, nor can you completely eradicate groundwater contamination. You have to engage with your local community.
Attend (or organize) events or activities that advocate for local protection programs which involve water remediation or bio-remediation, show the importance of inflatable packers for grouting and educate the community on recycling practices.
Start with small changes in your community as, over time, these will have a massive impact. And once you’ve started, you will want to continue reforming the locale you live in.
5. Conserve the groundwater you have.
Water is a precious resource and only becoming more and more so as global shortages start to make an impact. Your household can make a difference by conserving the groundwater you do have access to.
Try simple things such as:
- Turning off the water when not necessary (for example, when brushing your teeth or shaving)
- Keeping a pitcher of cold water in the fridge instead of buying bottles
- Watering the lawn and plants during the coolest parts of the day and only when they genuinely need it
- Reducing the amount of “stuff” you have and reusing what you can
- Checking all the fixtures in your home for leaks and fixing them right away
- Installing water conservation models
- Limiting yourself to an eight-minute shower
- Only running full loads in the dish and clothes washer
All make a big difference (especially if you can convince your friends and family to do them as well!)
What do you do to protect and conserve groundwater in your home? We always want to learn from you, so let us know about your family’s tips and tricks in the comments below!
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Dave Baca
Dave Baca is the General Manager at Aardvark Packers LLC, overseeing day-to-day operations as well as sales, marketing, purchasing and work order manipulation. He received his machinist degree in 1989 and excels at design on AutoCAD, transforming designs into the packer systems requested by clients.
