Twelve Things YOU can do to Save our Water

1. Turn off the faucet! Don't let the water run when you are brushing your teeth or doing the dishes. Even though it seems like the water is running for "just a few seconds," these seconds quickly add up to gallons of wasted water.
   
   
2. Take shorter showers! Play a game by timing how long your normal shower is and then challenge yourself to see how short your shower can be.
   
   
3. Use a sponge and bucket of water when washing your bike or family car instead of letting the hose run.
   
   
4. Fix leaky water taps! Become a tap detective and search your house for any leaking sinks, showers, toilets or bathtubs. Ask your parents to fix the leak.
   
   
5. Install low-flow faucets, showers, and toilets at home. These are made to use less water. One simple trick to save water is to put a brick or a plastic milk jug full of water into the toilet tank. This saves water every time the toilet flushes.
   
   
6. When using the washing machine, put in a full load of laundry, instead of just a few items of clothing.
   
   
7. Eat less beef and more fruits, grains, and vegetables. It takes about 600 gallons of water to produce one-quarter pound hamburger, but only about 65 gallons of water to produce a serving of baked beans. Learn more with this fun activity!
   
   
8. Don't litter! Put all waste into the recycling bin, compost bin or trashcan. Litter can end up in the bay and ocean and can hurt the animals that live there.
   
   
9. Don't dump toxic materials like house paint, paint thinner and used motor oil down the sink, drain, storm drain or gutter. These poisons can end up in the bay or ocean and make the whales, dolphins, sea lions and fish that live there sick. Take these hazardous or dangerous materials to the Hazardous Waste Facility instead!
   
   
10. Ask your parents to buy "green" cleaning and gardening products. These are safer to use and are less toxic. They are sometimes labeled "earth friendly." Many of these products can be found at healthy food stores. They can also be found online:
    www.kokogm.com/Green_Market/HouseholdCleaning.html
    
    
11. Ask your parents not to dump medicines down the sink or toilet. Many of these drugs end up getting into our water supply and are becoming a big source of pollution. Old and unused medicines should be put into the trashcan.
    
    
12. Never throw a mercury thermometer into the trashcan or wash the mercury down the sink. Mercury is one of the most poisonous things on Earth and the mercury from one broken thermometer can poison 50 million gallons of water in the bay! If a mercury thermometer breaks, leave the area immediately and tell your parents to visit this website to learn how to clean up the mercury as safely as possible.