Before you pour any potentially hazardous material down the drain, think again. The toxins that enter the water supply can have a profound impact on the environment and human health. Contaminants that enter surface water sources like lakes and streams can affect large tracts of land and the plants and animals that live there.
Urban and agricultural runoff carries a high environmental cost. What’s more is that the problem is seldom contained. Water flow distributes whatever ends up in the water, taking its negative consequences with it.
Agricultural and Garden Runoff
The Safe Drinking Water Act protects the public water supply system by regulating the contaminants that can affect human or environmental health. An entire class of contaminants contains chemicals used in farming and gardening, including herbicides and pesticides.
Consider the purpose of a pesticide. Its objective is to kill some type of pest, whether it is a parasite or a weed. Some pesticides such as alachlor can increase the risk for developing cancer. Glyphosate, an ingredient found in several garden herbicides, can cause kidney or reproductive difficulties.
Any pesticide that is spread onto a farm field or garden can end up in surface water from precipitation. The risk increases if you apply these contaminants near water. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), agricultural runoff is the main source of water pollution in the United States.
Engine Oil and Other Contaminants
Engine oil and other contaminants can affect waterways in several ways. For example, dumping used engine oil onto the ground or into a stream after an oil change can contaminate up to one million gallons of water. That is the equivalent of affecting the annual water supply for 50 people. The EPA estimates that up to 200 million gallons of used oil are improperly disposed of each year. That is more than the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989.
Urban runoff may also occur by less obvious means. A leak in your radiator can cause similar effects over the long term. Think about all the millions of cars on the roads, and you can understand how this problem can escalate. In addition, the salt or sand applied to streets can compound the environmental impacts.
Safe Drinking Water
The key then is to make conscious decisions about how you dispose of waste and impact the environment. Rather than using pesticides with known contaminants, opt for natural choices such as vinegar or salt. You should use best practices for pesticide and herbicide use by not applying them near water or wells. You should also avoid drift by not applying these products in your garden on windy days.
While household hazardous wastes are not regulated the same as business, you can still take proactive measures to lessen your environmental impact. Automotive stores or waste recycling centers may accept your used engine oil or other hazardous waste.
By understanding the implications of your choices, you can make wise decisions. Your eco-friendly actions can make a difference. By reducing runoff, you can do your part to protect the environment and safeguard human health.
Sources:
- Bluemink, Elizabeth. (2010, June 10). Size of Exxon spill remains disputed. The Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.adn.com
- PAN Pesticide Database. (2010). Chemical Summary for Glyphosate from www.PesticideInfo.org. Retrieved from http://www.pesticideinfo.org
- U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2011, March 11). How Does Oil Impact the Environment? Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2005). Protecting Water Quality from Agricultural Runoff. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2011, September 30). National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2011, September 28). Used Oil Management Program – Basic Information. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov
