Watersheds are areas of land that help water and snow reach larger water bodies. Due to the slope of a watershed, gravity guides the water down the slope and into a larger water body, such as a river, stream, or lake.
A watershed gives humans, plants, and animals access to the water they need to survive. It’s important that we take all the necessary steps to maintain our local watersheds and keep them safe from pollution and overconsumption.
In the latest blog from Indiana American Water, we’ll discuss why it’s so important to protect your local watershed, as well as provide you with some tips to minimize your impact on your local watershed.
Why Should You Protect Your Watershed?
From creating wildlife habitat areas for plants and animals to providing water to our homes, watersheds are responsible for supplying water to support a number of different ecosystems and environments. Without healthy watersheds, people, fish, and wildlife would struggle to find access to safe and healthy water.
By doing your part to protect your local watershed, you’ll ensure that a variety of organisms receive access to the water they need to stay safe and healthy.
Ways to Protect Your Local Watershed
Conserve Water
A great first step to take in protecting your local watershed is to ensure that your home is not using more water than is necessary. Fix any leaky faucets, turn off the water when it’s not being used, and even take shorter showers to ensure you’re not overusing water.
While this will certainly help to protect your local watershed, you’ll also notice the added benefit of lower water bills as a result of limiting your consumption.
Create Fewer Automobile Emissions
The typical car will produce 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) each year. Carbon dioxide, as well as other greenhouse gases and emissions created by automobiles, can negatively impact water quality and present dangers to any organism that utilizes the polluted water.
If walking or biking to your destination is a plausible alternative to driving, consider doing so. You’ll help to reduce the number of pollutants that enter the water through your local watershed.
Properly Dispose of Chemicals
Any toxic chemicals should be properly disposed of at a hazardous waste disposal center, rather than dumped down your drain. Improper disposal of chemicals will lead to increased water pollution and make it difficult for water users, such as plants and animals, to find safe water.
Human health can also be negatively affected by improper chemical disposal. An increase in water pollution can lead to water shortages and other severe long-term issues.
Utilize Rain to Water Plants
Watering a lawn or plants can use thousands of gallons of water each week. However, by collecting rain and redistributing it to your household plants, you’ll help to minimize your impact on your local watershed.
A great way to conserve water, as well as minimize your water bill, is to take advantage of rainfall. Prior to a rainstorm, place buckets outside to collect rainwater that can be used to water plants. Your plants will be naturally watered from the rainfall, and you can use the collected rain to water your plants when the weather begins to dry up.
Contact Us for More Information
Doing your part to protect your local watershed can have positive benefits and effects for years to come. For more watershed protection information and tips, contact us today or visit us online at www.indianaamwater.com. We’ll provide you with any information that you might need in order to improve your conservation efforts and reduce your impact on your local watershed.