rote _ rg | LU Jae ey Tips To Help Keep Water Clean (NAPSA)—Taking a look around your house and yard could be the first step in improving water quality and protecting the Earth. Experts say much of the contaminants that end up in the world’s waterways stem from human activities, many of which take place at home. By taking responsibility for your own backyard, you can make a difference. Here are some things you can do Common garden pesticides and fertilizers can leach into water systems if used improperly. Make sure to carefully follow the manufacturer’s directions. Conserve water. If your community has a warm-weather watering policy, follow it. If not, try watering your garden, trees and lawns every other day. To help you remember, water on odd days if your address is an odd number, for example. Also, collect rainwater to use for potted plants. In the house, make sure you have a lowflow toilet to conserve water. Regularly inspect and maintain septic tanks. According to an American Housing Survey, 6 percent of septic systems fail annually, resulting in improper treatment of 66 billion to 144 billion gallons of sewage. That sewage can sometimes put area waterways atrisk. Keeping your septic system in good working condition can help prevent failure, and there are a numberof Earth-friendly waysto doit. A product called Meadow Springs Septic Tank Maintenance, for example, is made with “EcoYeast” and is designed to naturally maintain a system. The yeast is ——— Making Earth-friendly changes around the home could affect waterways acrossthe country. blended with other natural en- zymes and activates bacteria to break down waste substances that can cause a system to back up, leak or otherwise malfunction. The product does not introduce toxins into the leach field and does not require homeownersto handle chemicals or bacteria. Once a month, pour it into your toilet and flush. Most other prod- ucts on the market are bacteria based and use other chemicals. Properly dispose of paint, electronic devices and chemicals used inside and outside the home. If you are unsure of how to do this, contact your area’s recycling center or go online for more information. e Pick up pet waste daily and dispose of it properly, especially in areas near water bodies. For more information andto find out how to purchase this product, visit Www.meadowspringscorp.com or call (888) 281-6400. You can also visit the site to enter to win one of 25 “Green Home Makeovers” ($99 value).
