National Water Quality Month

Imagine life without water.

No rain, no puddles with jumping kids, no beauty of wonderful fountains, lakes, rivers, or the oceans. There is no clean water to quench your thirst or bathe. Life without water is impossible.

Did you know that 1 in 3 people do not have access to clean water?

National Water Quality Month (August) is a reminder to take care of the limited sources of water we have.

Water is important not only for human consumption but also for the other inhabitants of the ecosystem. With a few lifestyle changes, we can make a huge difference in enhancing the water quality. Read further to understand everything about National Water Quality Month.

Where did it all begin?

It all started when the two US congressional acts passed in the early 1970s to safeguard water sources. The first one was the Clean Water Act (1972), and the other was the Safe Drinking Water Act (1974).

With these acts they tried to stop water contamination by making it illegal to release toxic substances into the water bodies and ensuring groundwater was clean.

In 2005, National Water Quality Month was founded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and backed by the United Nations. This step was taken to encourage people to spread awareness about conserving water sources.

Importance of clean water

Human bodies are made up of 70% of water and so is the Earth. But did you know only 3% of water is suitable for human consumption?

Now you may think if 70% of the Earth is made up of water why don’t we make it accessible to human spending? It is not as easy as it sounds.

Turning salt water into drinkable water is a very expensive process and not feasible. That is why it is important to protect the limited source of water we have and spend it wisely.

Crucial reasons to know why water quality is poor

• The over-polluted rivers: Rivers of India like the Ganges, Yamuna, and Godhavari are extremely polluted due to various reasons such as the release of industrial and agricultural waste and domestic sewage. This not only impacts the health of humans but also has an adverse effect on the aquatic life present in these rivers.
• Groundwater contamination: Improper disposal of waste leads to pollution of groundwater making the water undrinkable.
• Agricultural causes: To grow crops there is a need for fertilizer and pesticides, which has led to contamination of water bodies with harmful substances. This can be avoided by using natural fertilizers such as compost.

What can you do to support National Water Quality Month

Spread awareness

Talking to your friends and family about the importance of National Water Quality Month can take the world a long way. General discussion on tips for saving water is a small step towards a huge difference.

Save water

• Wash your car with recycled water or even better take your car to the nearest professional car washer. They have access to drain the wastewater into the sewer system for it to be recycled.
• Tiny drops of water make oceans so fix your leaking pipes or faucets instead of ignoring them.
• Monitor the minutes you require to take a bath and reduce it accordingly to reduce water wastage.
• Water your lawns with recycled water.
• Invest in rainwater harvesting.
• Wash your clothes and vessels in full load this will help you reduce water use per cycle.

Dispose of waste right

Know your waste and learn how to dispose of it right. You can separate organic and inorganic waste. Separate your medical waste and dispose of it in a right manner. This will prevent water contamination.

Recycling and Composting

Start household composting, read more here. Make the 3Rs your lifestyle, reduce recycle, and reuse.

So, now that you have learned about National Water Quality Month make your move to sustainable living. By following these simple steps, you are not only protecting water from contamination but also protecting water for future generations. These may sound like very trivial things to do but they carry a huge impact on the environment.

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