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How to Protect and Preserve Your Home's Drinking Water

After global attention was focused on the fresh water supply crisis in Flint, Mich., consumers across the country started paying more attention to water quality.  

According to Tommy Webber, owner of T. Webber Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, the following are a few simple things anyone can do to improve the water quality in their community:

Use a rain barrel – During the summer months, garden and lawn watering make up about 40 percent of a household’s total water consumption. Webber recommends using rain barrels to collect runoff from rooftops and use that to water lawns and gardens.

Wash the car on the lawn – Several of the soaps and detergents that are used to wash cars contain phosphorus and other nutrients that may be good for the grass, but may not be so good for water sources.

Properly dispose of pollutants – Used motor oil, antifreeze, paint, roof tar, rechargeable batteries, unused fertilizer, unused medication and other similar contaminants can be recycled at most solid waste plants, Webber says, to prevent them from entering the water supply.

Pick up pet waste – One ounce of dog waste contains 23 million microorganisms of disease-causing fecal coliform bacteria, so Webber suggests flushing pet droppings or putting them in the garbage.

Put household trash where it belongs – Recycle, reuse or put it in the garbage. Plastic does not decompose and can harm many animals and fish as well as pollute the water.

Have your home's water tested by a professional – Many suburban and rural residents rely on private wells for their water source. Unlike public water systems which are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), private wells are not.

Webber says once a home's water is tested including checks for arsenic, bacterial contaminants, hardness, iron levels, lead, nitrates and pH balance, and any contaminants are identified, the expert can likely recommend a water treatment system to improve the water quality and provide peace of mind.