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Our bodies are more than 60% water and we require about 8 cups a day to stave off dehydration. Keeping water clean is as good for humans as it is for the environment.
Healthy watersheds protect freshwater resources. Simply put, a watershed is an area of land that drains into a body of water, such as a lake or stream. Rainwater makes a steady journey downward, through the watershed, where it recharges groundwater and flows into lakes, streams, rivers, and beyond.
Healthy watersheds cleanse water. But far too often, our activities degrade the way watersheds function, to the detriment of water quality.
We have a tendency to build in high areas and cover the landscape in what scientists call “impervious surface.” When permeable surfaces, such as fields and forests, are replaced with roadways, parking lots, and rooftops — less water percolates into soils, where it can help recharge groundwater supplies.
During rain events, impermeable surfaces divert water into fast running channels, increasing flooding. Surface pollutants, such as motor oil, are swept into nearby wetlands and water bodies.
Because water flows downhill, even seemingly benign activities, like lawn maintenance, can have a big impact. Pollutants that wind up being transported from watersheds to our freshwater resources include road deicers, pesticides, fertilizer, and pharmaceuticals.
Lighten the pollution load. Keep lawns to a minimum size, select grass adapted to your local climate, and forgo chemical interventions. Keep your home landscape as permeable as possible. And never flush old pharmaceuticals – opt for take-back programs instead.
Photo, taken on June 15, 2008 using a Nikon D70s, courtesy of Charles Dawley via Flickr.