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Franklin Soil and Water Conservation Tips Conservation
Tip #1
Antibacterial
soaps may contain an ingredient, triclosan, that can be harmful to stream-dwelling wildlife. It can interfere with natural hormone
cycles in animals, including the American bullfrog, and can also be
toxic. Triclosan
enters our streams because it is difficult to remove from sewage at
wastewater treatment plants. The
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
says “The mechanical activity of
vigorous hand washing with soap [for at lest 15 seconds] removes dirt and
pathogens from hands, and is the primary factor in prevention of
disease.” The CDC has found that “incidence
of disease did not differ significantly between households given plain soap
versus antibacterial soap.” So stay
healthy with frequent hand washing and keep our streams healthy by using
plain soap. Jackson, J. (2008). Sources of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in
urban wastewater, Conservation
Tip #2
Recently, I have seen many homes in my neighborhood with
that tell-tale yellow flagging across the driveway. Before you hire someone or seal your
driveway yourself, check the ingredient label. Coal tar-based pavement sealants have been
shown to be a source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination
in stream sediments. PAHs have short-term toxicity
to both birds and aquatic life, and long-term toxicity to aquatic life.
Insufficient data are available on the short- or long-term toxicity to land
animals. PAHs
are moderately persistent in the environment, and can bioaccumulate. The concentrations of PAHs
found in fish and shellfish is expected to be much higher than the
environment from which it was taken. For
a list of alternatives to coal tar-based sealants: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watershed/coaltar_altproducts.htm Conservation Tip #3 To all of you students who say you want to protect the Earth: What are you actually doing? An easy way to make an impact and share your enthusiasm with your friends is to Pack a Waste-Free Lunch. Come on, you don’t really think those Styrofoam trays get recycled, do you? Think about how elegant you will appear with a cloth napkin and a real fork or spoon. Use a washable container for your sandwich or leftovers, but be sure to include an icepack for refrigerated foods or sandwiches with mayo. You probably are already using a refillable water bottle. Work with your school administration to ensure there are enough recycling containers throughout the school. Organize a Waste-Free Lunch Day at your school. By reducing waste, you reduce the need for new landfills. New landfills can take farmland out of production and may lead to surface and groundwater pollution. Conservation Tip #4 Where
does the water go when you flush your toilet?
Over 17,000 houses in Click here for more information about aerators. Click
here for more information about septic systems. |