(NAPSA)—While there are about 326 million cubic miles of water on earth, only about three percent is fresh water and only one half of one percent is accessible. The rest of the fresh water is frozen in polar ice caps, trapped underground,or polluted. According to Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), there is a critical need for water education, especially among kids, our future environmental stewards. “People have a limited knowledge about water. In fact, the majority of people do not recognize the definition of a watershed (a large area where rain and snow drain toward the same body of water), and almost a third don’t know thesource of their drinking water. Clearly people need to be educated about this precious resource,” said Dennis Nelson, founder and executive director for Project WET, a not-for-profit water science and education program for students in grades K-12. “Learning that water is a natural resource that requires management helps everyone appreciate and understandtheir personal roles as water stewards.” Fortunately there are steps you can take at home to protect this precious resource. 6 Use safe, non-toxic cleaning products such as baking sodafor scrubbing and vinegar and water for cleaning windows. Don’t pour toxic substances such as motoroil, leftover paint, household cleaners, pesticides or even some medicine downthe drain. 6 Participate in or organize a household hazardous waste collection day. Clean up after yourpets so the waste does notrun into nearby waterways. 6 Participatein a river, pond or highway cleanup or organize one. 6 If using lawnfertilizers or pesticides, follow theinstructions. Excess lawn chemicals can infiltrate directly into ground water. 6 Don’t pour chemicals down storm drains. They emptydirectly into streams andrivers. 6 If you live along a waterway, pond orlake, plant shrubbery along the edgetofilter sediment and lawn chemicals before they reach the water. } When washing your car, pull it on to the grass so soap doesn’t run into the storm drain. More than 50,000 kids across the country learn about the importance of their role as water stewards each year through Project WET’s “Make A Splash” festivals. With support from The Perrier Group of America, the one-day, simultaneous water education festivals feature a series of structured stations and exhibits educating students about such topics as the hydrologic cycle, ground water, spring water, water quality, wetlands, water management, water conservation, the cultural history of water and more. “As a corporation, The Perrier Group (providers of Poland Spring, Arrowheadandother regional spring water brands) cares about water, chil- dren and education. We believe everyone hasa role in protecting this lim- ited resource,” explained the company’s president and CEO, Kim Jeffery. For information on water workshops and teacher training or to participate in an online waterfestival, log onto www.projectwet.org, or to learn what you can do call Project WET at 406-994-5392.
