What You Can Do To Help!
So in the end what does this all mean? we have taken you on this journey but at what cost? A grade? The fame? The Money? (never there) *tear* of course not. This is not an obscure problem that only related to San Diegans? Californians? londonders. None of those singularly. Every where in the world we are getting effected by a water crisis in some way shape or form.
We in southern California seem to be hit pretty hard by this so what better to protect ourselves from water problems than just to fix our problems. Not only in southern California but globally.
ADOPT A LOCAL WATERSHED
The EPA alone has over 2,600 watershed groups that serve to protect and clean our local water both fresh and salt. By participating in this volunteer work you not only get community service credit but you could potentially make your neighborhood/City a cleaner, better place for you to call home. These is just the intro into this whole community of water protectors. If you would like more information click this link
We in southern California seem to be hit pretty hard by this so what better to protect ourselves from water problems than just to fix our problems. Not only in southern California but globally.
ADOPT A LOCAL WATERSHED
The EPA alone has over 2,600 watershed groups that serve to protect and clean our local water both fresh and salt. By participating in this volunteer work you not only get community service credit but you could potentially make your neighborhood/City a cleaner, better place for you to call home. These is just the intro into this whole community of water protectors. If you would like more information click this link
How to prevent Run-Off
Run-off for San Diego means straight into the ocean. Maybe the best part about San Diego The Pacific ocean. With fishing, diving, swimming, science, and surfing this is an aspect of our life we can't afford to destroy.
- Keep litter, pet wastes, leaves and debris out of street gutters and storm drains—these outlets drain directly to lake, streams, rivers and wetlands.
- Apply lawn and garden chemicals sparingly and according to directions.
- Dispose of used oil, antifreeze, paints and other household chemicals properly—not in storm sewers or drains. If your community does not already have a program for collecting household hazardous wastes, ask your local government to establish one.
- Clean up spilled brake fluid, oil, grease and antifreeze. Do not hose them into the street where they can eventually reach local streams and lakes.
- Control soil erosion on your property by planting ground cover and stabilizing erosion-prone areas.
- Encourage local government officials to develop construction erosion and sediment control ordinances in your community.
- Have your septic system inspected and pumped, at a minimum every three to five years, so that it operates properly.
- Purchase household detergents and cleaners that are low in phosphorous to reduce the amount of nutrients discharged into our lakes, streams and coastal waters.
Mining doesn't really effect us but remember, this is a global issue that can bring us all down.
- Become involved in local mining issues by voicing your concerns about acid mine drainage and reclamation projects in your area.
Forestry in America has become such a protected and sought after aspect of the American life that if we destroy our forests, which then leads to soil erosion and then into run-off ultimately contaminating our water we wouldn't be the same America. #'merica
- Use proper logging and erosion control practices on your forest lands by ensuring proper construction, maintenance, and closure of logging roads and skid trails.
- Report questionable logging practices to state and federal forestry and state water quality agencies.
Agriculture is our power house item in America. the whole mid-west is covered with farms and a damage to our water is an even more powerful damage to our farms. Not only that but we eat this stuff. who wants to eat food that has been fed polluted water.
- Manage animal waste to minimize contamination of surface water and ground water.
- Protect drinking water by using less pesticides and fertilizers.
- Reduce soil erosion by using conservation practices and other applicable best management practices.
- Use planned grazing systems on pasture and rangeland.
- Dispose of pesticides, containers, and tank rinsate in an approved manner.
Globally
As San Diegans we like to think we are what the world dreams off being so we don't think we could take a large step in the global environmental crisis. Not only is our duty as Americans to police the world but it's our job to save it environmentally. The best and easiest way is to donate money to non-profit organizations that can be found on the UN's website. These organizations give water to people and build wells so that they can have safe drinking water, something we often times forget.
Education
The education of future generations is probably the most important aspect of fixing this issue. If we introduce more ecologic programs in schools we can teach the future of how to protect what we have failed to protect. The education of the world would help children grow into the environmentally responsible people we need.