Essay On Water Pollution

In order to prevent current ground water pollution, businesses and residents of New England must be willing to change some bad habits. Pollutants such as bacteria, fertilizers, detergents, fuel, and other everyday household product get disposed into lakes, streams, and rivers causing contamination to the water. Other forms of groundwater contamination come from wells, septic systems, and small disposal pits due to improper treatment. The more people who gain knowledge of groundwater pollution and what causes it will be more likely to change their ways and start taking steps towards bettering their communities.

A home lawn or garden can affect water quality if it is not taken care of properly. When water falls on the bare surfaces of gardens or lawns, it does not do much damage. However, if there are pathways or slopes within a yard runoff will occur causing ground water pollution. Substituting concrete and asphalt for vegetation and gravel will help reduce the amount of runoff a lawn produces. Rainfall, sprinklers, and hoses are all sources of water that help transport these soil particles and toxic chemicals into waterways making them unsuitable for drinking, swimming, or other activities.

It is very important when planting vegetation to make sure that it is planted with natural fertilizers. Compost, rotted manure, bone meal, and peat are all alternatives to these toxic chemical fertilizers. Most of these natural fertilizers can be created simply from leftover food scraps such as frozen fruits or vegetables, banana peals, eggshells, paper, as well as wide variety of other household items. Natural fertilizers not only protect the water, but they also help stimulate plant growth, retain soil moisture, and redirect waste from ...

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...oured down a drain they will most likely end up in a nearby body of water and become water that is used to drink, clean, and cook with. Instead of trying to dispose of these hazardous materials through household furniture, there are “take back programs” which allow these materials to be disposed of properly. Avoiding the purchase of these pollutants altogether is the best solution.

Twenty-five percent of households in the United States rely on septic systems to dispose of waste. The typical construction of a septic tank includes a septic tank, a distribution box, and a drain field. When a septic tank is installed it should be located away from drinking water sources and within a thick amount of soil. If the soil permeability is too low the drain field will be unable to handle the wastewater, contributing to the contamination of surface water through run off.