Kids Can Protect
Groundwater Too!
Even with all of the contamination threats to groundwater, it CAN be protected by kids like you who educate the people in their homes and communities about the water they drink.
You can actually start protecting groundwater right at home! Investigate your home for products (paints, cleaners, etc.) that would contaminate the groundwater if they were poured down the drain or dumped on the ground outside. If you live in a house with a lawn, find out about all the chemicals (pesticides, fertilizers, etc.) that are used on the lawn. Talk to your family members about how hazardous household or lawn products can contaminate the groundwater. Instead of pouring chemicals down the drain, they can be used up so there is only a container left. Purchase "environmentally safe" products over hazardous ones. Chemical use on lawns can be reduced to prevent large amounts of contaminants getting into the groundwater.
There are lots of easy ways you can make a groundwater difference in your neighborhood, and community as well. Some examples include:
- Pick up litter in your neighborhood and on your school grounds.
- Encourage your friends and family to reduse, reuse, and recycle.
- Talk with your school’s principal and superintendent about certification as a Groundwater Guardian Green Site.
- You can go to your neighborhood or community leaders and ask them to sponsor a household hazardous waste collection day where people can bring their old paint, oil, or other chemicals to be disposed of properly.
- You and your friends or family members can go around to storm drains in your area to stencil a groundwater friendly message.
- Design posters or flyers in your community that educate citizens on easy ways to conserve water.
- Ride a bike, walk, rollerblade or take a skateboard instead of taking the bus or riding in a car.
- Encourage friends and family to purchase "green" household cleaning alternatives and to limit their use of harmful chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers.
- Talk to your teacher at school about a groundwater class project or a school-wide groundwater education day.
- Join a surface water monitoring club to test and track changes in a pond, stream or lake near your home.
- Celebrate Earth Day, everyday.
- Partner with your local FFA, Boy Scout, Girl Scout or other organization to host a public "Test Your Well" event.
- Consider forming a groundwater club that meets after school. As a club, you can work together to complete some simple groundwater protection service projects in your community.
With all the contamination threats to groundwater, what difference can one person make? A lot! It just takes one person to begin positive change toward groundwater and that person can be you!!
