For many people, getting fresh water is as easy as turning on the faucet but that doesn’t mean it is okay to take fresh water for granted. There are many ways to help keep sources of fresh water clean. Keeping water clean helps keep wildlife safe and healthy – and people, too!
Water naturally collects in places like lakes and rivers. This water eventually makes its way to homes and businesses where people use it for things like cooking, cleaning and drinking. While it is in these lakes and rivers animals and plants use the water, too. Believe it or not, a lot of the things we do on land affect these water sources. Littering and pouring oils and other chemicals and pollutants into drains are just some of the things that can harm drinking water and damage living conditions for animals that rely on it.
Litter can get swept into storm drains or into bodies of water and pollute the it. This also harms wildlife including fish, birds and other small animals.
Pouring oils and other chemicals into drains changes the chemistry of the water making it unsafe for wildlife to drink it or live in it, as well.
