There Must Be Something in the Water
Written by Jessica N. Moore
Having access to clean water makes our life as we know it in the United States. Sadly, we know that is not the case everywhere. But as much as we think we have a right to clean water, the responsibility of that lies within our actions of how we treat the environment.
We all remember the water cycle during our elementary school days, but it goes further than that. All the runoff, everything put down the drains, trash that clogs up the gutters, all goes back into our drinking water system, polluting the surface water more than we think.
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), under the EPA guidelines, tests for over 90 possible contaminants that fall under four categories: physical, chemical, biological, radiological. Safe levels of contaminants exist, so we know the water is not as pure as we think. The list of contaminants includes naturally occurring elements but others such as asbestos, barium, metals such as lead and mercury, organic chemicals, and radioactive particles which all can cause serious health problems.
Here is where it’s up to you, if we want to prevent pollution, we must first stop and think about what factors our activities are doing to contribute to the problem. We then can work back step by step to reduce it, and though it may take months, or even years to see the difference, our future depends on what we do now to minimize the problem.
Pharmaceuticals
Recently, our water system has seen another pollutant we haven’t given much thought to. Pharmaceuticals are showing up in our water supply. But the interesting part is that while it is not only dumping them down the toilet, a lot of it comes from what is leftover from what is metabolized from our bodies. The FDA has guidelines on “Where and How to Dispose of Unused Medicines” which our population should be more aware. But trace amounts over the years could cause harmful effects.
While disposal is a significant factor, let’s explore how we are unintentionally doing it. Depending on the person, about 90% of a drug is metabolized. The undigested parent compound excreted through waste or sweat, which ultimately is flushed down a toilet or the drain of a shower. This is natural for our bodies not to digest all of medicine, but we can put a stop to improper disposal of these items.
Let’s Change Our Ways
I’m asking for a call to action if you are unsure of how to dispose of anything at all, check! We have the internet at our fingertips with answers to any questions you may have about the process of disposal. Earth911 has sections on how to recycle various products from glass, plastic, household and automotive waste. Not only do we need this now, but for the future generations and the Earth itself.
To dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired medications, check out a local pharmacy such as Walgreens.
Earth911 can help locate a place to recycle single-use batteries.
I hope that you read this and can decide you want to help make a change for the environment to prevent further contaminants from entering our water. With a limited supply, we want to make these changes before it's too late.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
Having access to clean water makes our life as we know it in the United States. Sadly, we know that is not the case everywhere. But as much as we think we have a right to clean water, the responsibility of that lies within our actions of how we treat the environment.
We all remember the water cycle during our elementary school days, but it goes further than that. All the runoff, everything put down the drains, trash that clogs up the gutters, all goes back into our drinking water system, polluting the surface water more than we think.
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), under the EPA guidelines, tests for over 90 possible contaminants that fall under four categories: physical, chemical, biological, radiological. Safe levels of contaminants exist, so we know the water is not as pure as we think. The list of contaminants includes naturally occurring elements but others such as asbestos, barium, metals such as lead and mercury, organic chemicals, and radioactive particles which all can cause serious health problems.
Here is where it’s up to you, if we want to prevent pollution, we must first stop and think about what factors our activities are doing to contribute to the problem. We then can work back step by step to reduce it, and though it may take months, or even years to see the difference, our future depends on what we do now to minimize the problem.
Pharmaceuticals
Recently, our water system has seen another pollutant we haven’t given much thought to. Pharmaceuticals are showing up in our water supply. But the interesting part is that while it is not only dumping them down the toilet, a lot of it comes from what is leftover from what is metabolized from our bodies. The FDA has guidelines on “Where and How to Dispose of Unused Medicines” which our population should be more aware. But trace amounts over the years could cause harmful effects.
While disposal is a significant factor, let’s explore how we are unintentionally doing it. Depending on the person, about 90% of a drug is metabolized. The undigested parent compound excreted through waste or sweat, which ultimately is flushed down a toilet or the drain of a shower. This is natural for our bodies not to digest all of medicine, but we can put a stop to improper disposal of these items.
Let’s Change Our Ways
I’m asking for a call to action if you are unsure of how to dispose of anything at all, check! We have the internet at our fingertips with answers to any questions you may have about the process of disposal. Earth911 has sections on how to recycle various products from glass, plastic, household and automotive waste. Not only do we need this now, but for the future generations and the Earth itself.
To dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired medications, check out a local pharmacy such as Walgreens.
Earth911 can help locate a place to recycle single-use batteries.
I hope that you read this and can decide you want to help make a change for the environment to prevent further contaminants from entering our water. With a limited supply, we want to make these changes before it's too late.
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