be the E: Protect Water

Did you know?

Hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” is a method of gas extraction that involves injecting secret, highly-toxic chemicals deep underground to fracture rock formations and has been linked to over 1,000 incidents of groundwater contamination across the US. (frackaction.com)
17 million barrels of oil are used annually just to create the plastic water bottles consumed in America. (pacinst.org)
The American public uses 43 billion gallons of water per day. (USEPA)

Threats to Water

More than 1/3 of the world’s available water supply is polluted. The pollution of our water resources can have serious and wide-ranging effects on the environment and human health. Drinking water sources become contaminated, causing sickness and disease. Pollution in waterways poisons and deforms fish and other animals, unbalances ecosystems and causes a reduction in biodiversity. Ultimately, these effects take their toll on human life. Pollutants accumulate in food, making it dangerous or inedible. The presence of these toxic substances in our food and water can also lead to reproductive problems and neurological disorders. (USEPA)

Climate change is already affecting the amount of water available for human use and wildlife. Uneven distribution of precipitation causes extreme drought in some areas and massive flooding in others. Changes in temperature and relative humidity also influence the rates at which water evaporates, impacting the amount of water available to replenish groundwater supplies. It is expected that fresh water could be the single most important natural resource on earth in coming years. (NM Climate Masters)

Take Action!

Quick and Easy

· Don’t let water run. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth, soaping your hands, or shaving and you could save 8 gallons of water a day. For more tips on how to conserve water go to http://www.wateruseitwisely.com

· Stop using bottled water. Carry a reusable bottle. Consider using a filter http://www.filterforgood.comThe purity of bottled water is not guaranteed. An investigation by the Environmental Working Group found 38 contaminants in 10 major brands of bottled water, including disnfection byproducts, fertilizer residue and pain medication: http://www.ewg.org/reports/BottledWater/Bottled-Water-Quality-Investigation

· Choose water-saving fixtures.Opt for new low-flow shower heads, faucets and toilets or put restrictors on your current fixtures.

· Take showers rather than baths and flush the toilet less frequently. The average bath uses 70 gallons of water. A 5-minute shower only uses 10-12 gallons. If waiting for water to warm up, place a bucket under the faucet while waiting and use the cold water to water plants.

· Learn more about the dangers of fracking: http://www.waterdefense.org/the-problems/fracking

Extra Effort

· Tell your governor to stop subsidizing bottled water.State governments are spending millions of taxpayer dollars each year to buy bottled water. http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2215/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=440

· Support the ban on fracking in New York State.Send an email to your elected officials and help spread the word http://frackaction.com/content/frack-action-new-york

· Wash your car at a local carwash. Carwashes recycle the water producing less waste and protecting waterways from cleaning chemicals.

Big Changes

· Install water-efficient appliances. This can save about 11,000 gallons of water and 600 kWh per person per year. http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense

· Install a sink on top of the toilet tank to use for hand-washing. This uses grey water, rather than fresh, to flush the toilet. http://sinkpositive.com