Americans have access to all the water they need most of the time, so the importance of saving water is overlooked. Water use is a habit. We are used to having water at the twist of a faucet and we usually do not think about how much water we use. Be aware of how much water you use and conserve water because it is the right thing to do. Try to do one thing each day to conserve water. Don't worry if the savings are small because every drop counts!

You can make a difference:

- Use only the amount you actually need.
- Encourage your family to keep looking for new ways to conserve water in and around your home.
- Check for broken sprinklers in the yard, and be sure you are not watering the driveway, building, sidewalks, or street.
- Make sure your home is leak free.
- Water your grass only when it needs it, when it looks dull and leaves footprints when you walk across it.
- Turn off the tap water while brushing your teeth or washing your face.
- Do not flush the toilet unless it is really needed. Put a brick, toilet bladder (plastic bubble) or any other device that takes up space in the tank of the commode to cut down on the amount of water needed for each flush.
- Wash a car using a bucket. Use the water hose only for rinsing. Add a spray nozzle to your hose that will keep the water contained unless you pull the trigger to rinse your car.
- Water your lawn early in the morning if possible, to avoid the heat in the middle of the day or when it is windy.

WATER POLLUTION

 Water pollution can come from a lot of different places, but the number one reason that our creeks, rivers, lakes and beaches get dirty is from the water and other pollutants that flow into storm drains. Look below to find out more!

 What's storm water pollution? Storm water is the water that runs down the street when it's raining. Storm water enters holes in the gutter called storm drains. Water that flows down the street when it's not raining, like when you wash your car or water your lawn, is called urban runoff. After storm water and urban runoff flow into the storm drain, it gets sent to the nearest creek, river, lake or ocean so our streets don't flood. That means any pollutant on the street or in urban runoff gets carried to our water bodies and eventually the ocean.

 What's storm water pollution? Storm water is the water that runs down the street when it's raining. Storm water enters holes in the gutter called storm drains. Water that flows down the street when it's not raining, like when you wash your car or water your lawn, is called urban runoff. After storm water and urban runoff flow into the storm drain, it gets sent to the nearest creek, river, lake or ocean so our streets don't flood. That means any pollutant on the street or in urban runoff gets carried to our water bodies and eventually the ocean.

Can you think of all the pollutants that can float down a storm drain and contaminate our water? Think of some on your own using this list:

- Leaves and Grass Clippings
- Swimming pool chemicals
- Hazardous chemicals
- Soaps and detergents
- Trash and Litter
- Animal Waste
- Dirt
- Oil and other chemicals from cars
- Air pollution from cars
- Pesticides and Fertilizers

That's a pretty long list of stuff that can pollutant our water! But, do you know why it's bad for people and the environment?

- Chemicals like oil, chlorine (used for swimming pools), cleaners, pesticides and fertilizers can harm the animals, bugs and plants that live in the water, and can make people sick when it floats in the water.
- Too many leaves and grass clippings can take the oxygen out of water and suffocate the plants and animals who need oxygen to breathe. Use those for mulch in your yard. Also NEVER place leaves or grass clippings into your City dumpster because it increases the weight of the bin at the landfill and then your parent's taxes will go up.
- The waste from our pets is very harmful to our water bodies. Our pets' waste has dangerous bacteria that can spread diseases to plants, animals and humans that swim in dirty water, like oceans, lakes, or ponds.
- Soaps and detergents, like too many leaves and grass clippings, can take oxygen out of water and suffocate plants and animals. Also, soaps and detergents eat away at the slimy mucus layer that protects fish from diseases and bacteria. Did you ever think air pollution from cars could pollute our water? Yep. Remember, anything that goes up, must come down. So all the gross-looking, bad-smelling, gray/black/brown/blue gases that come out of a cars' tailpipes floats up into the air and eventually lands on the ground or in a creek, river, lake or ocean.
- Listen up, litterbugs! the trash you throw in the street will eventually end up in the water! If you don't litter, hurray! You're helping our environment stay clean! Trash is not only ugly to look at, but it pollutes our water and can make animals sick.
- You're a water pollution genius if you can get this question! Why is dirt bad for creeks, rivers and lakes? Well, a little bit of dirt is natural. But, too much from what's called "erosion" is harmful to water bodies. "Erosion" is when dirt slides off hillsides and lands in a water body. Also, dirt can come from our streets and sidewalks, get carried into a storm drain and eventually end up in a water body. So, why is dirt bad? It makes water murky, so fish have a hard time breathing or finding places to lay their eggs. Dirt also clogs up creeks, rivers and lakes making them disappear altogether.
- Now that you know how water pollution happens, do you know what you can do to prevent water pollution? There are lots of little things we can do around the house to pollute less.
- Make sure you don't let water full of pollutants like: dirt, chemicals, soaps, and grass clippings run down the street and into a storm drain.
- Make sure to clean up after your dog or cat in your yard or when you take it out for a walk.
- Convince your parents and neighbors to use less water when they wash their cars. Ask them not to let the hose run constantly, but use water only when they need it. Also, ask them to use a bucket with water and soap to wash the car, then drain the dirty & soapy water down the sink or in the grass.
- Throw all your trash into a garbage can and not the street, sidewalk, dirt, or grass.
- Convince your parents to drive less. Try planning trips to the store, gas station, mall, or other places in a path so you use less gas and time. The shorter the trips, the less the air will be polluted.

GET TO KNOW H₂O!

ALSO PRINT AND USE THE "USE WATER WISELY" WHEEL and FIND-A-WORD WATER PUZZLE!