Forest owners who plan to develop around wetlands and streams on their property are doing themselves no favors when they fail to get the their clean water permits from federal agencies. Although it's tempting to tell yourself you might not need one, failing to get one exposes you to a variety of financial and legal risks.
What do you call $6 billion that the U.S. government has invested in drinking water and wastewater treatment systems in 2010? A good start. It's a good start towards ending the recession and a down payment on our obligation to provide enough clean water for future generations of American families.
Have you ever driven past a sign for a ‘«Water Pollution Control Plant‘» and wondered what goes on there? A better question might be - who's paying to keep that plant going and how far behind are they on their bills? America's sewage treatment system is falling apart and the longer we wait to fix it, the more expensive the final bill will be.
The massive water system failure in Massachusetts reveals a long hidden problem: the public is increasingly at risk because America's water pipes and treatment plants are worn out and falling apart. What are the consequences of inaction -- and what can be done to remedy the situation?
Tapwater. It's safe for you and your family, and it's healthier for the environment than bottled water. If you like the taste of some brand of bottled water, then go right ahead and enjoy. But if you have been misled into thinking that you need to buy bottled water or filter your tapwater to protect your family, learn the facts about tapwater and reconsider.
Nothing makes a hard core green thumb madder than weeds in the lawn or garden. They're ugly. They compete for light, water, and nutrients. But if you treat those weeds with pesticides, you may accidentally pollute your nearby creek! Here are a few secrets for nontoxic pest-control supplies that you can pick up at your local grocery store.
Expert Author: Eric Eckl | Category: Dogs By now, you've probably figured out how to clean up after yourself. But what about cleaning up after your best friend? No, not the one from high school who knows your most embarrassing secrets, I'm talking about the one who couldn't share your those secrets even if they wanted to: your dog! You wouldn't expect a stranger to change your baby's diaper, would you? Of course not -- but if you don't pick up after your dog when he or she relieves herself at the local dog park, that's basically what you are doing.
Expert Author: Eric Eckl | Category: Parenting There's a small handful of things you absolutely don't want to flush down the drain -old cooking grease, unused medicines, and household chemicals. When you dispose of these things improperly, you can cause water pollution and damage the water pipes that everybody shares. Here are a few tips for safe and responsible disposal of household hazardous waste.
If you are a die hard green thumb, then the first sing of spring is when you find yourself gazing out the window at yard and thinking "that looks awful." You find yourself rummaging around the shed, inspecting your garden tools, and making excuses about why you need to get out to the Home Expo Mart and linger in the lawn and garden aisle.
Expert Author: Eric Eckl | Category: Dogs Have you ever seen this bumper sticker? "I strive to be the person my dog thinks I am." One way to live up to your dog's impression of you is to pick up your dog's poop when you are out walking. It's a simple step that leads to a nicer neighborhood, cleaner water, and a healthier environment.
Saving water and saving money around the house is a snap if you follow these three simple tips. You'll feel great knowing that you are doing your part to help protect the environment, and have a little more money in your pocket for the fun things in life, too.
The rain that falls on your yard helps nourish green and healthy grass. And the rain that runs off your yard ends up in the local creek. Here are three tips for how to mow your yard in an environmentally-friendly way that helps prevent water pollution!
Expert Author: Eric Eckl | Category: Dogs Green grass and clean water -- removing dog doo from your yard is a simple step that you can take to have both. This article briefly explores why -- and how -- to clean up after your dog at home, as well as when you are out walking.
Recent environmental issue surveys find that Americans now believe that stimulating the economy is more important than protecting the environment -- and yet other polls find that Americans reject the premise of these questions altogether. Are Americans losing their appetite for nature protection and pollution control? Or are sloppy poll questions creating a misleading impression?
Electric utilities have applied for the permits they need to build new coal burning power plants in south Georgia, and local families have every reason to be concerned. Already, we live with the pollution from the plants we have: There are government warnings about the consequences of eating too many fish, too often.
Despite overwhelming evidence that the Atlantic tuna is in big trouble and an aggressive campaign by ocean protection groups, the United Nations recently failed to take measures to protect it from further overfishing. Could ocean protection groups make their case more effectively? If so, how?
Expert Author: Eric Eckl | Category: Marketing Environmental experts often fall into the "if only they knew" trap -- "If only they knew they lived in a watershed," "if only they knew the stormdrain went to the creek." But TV commercials, brochures, and other materials that are educational produce disappointing results compared to those that try to encourage the desired behavior.
Expert Author: Eric Eckl | Category: Marketing When we are trying to make something happen, conservationists sometimes think like cowboys. We break out the rhetorical cattle prod and try to shock the public out of complacency and into action with a stiff jolt of bad news. There's a time and place for that -- but to motivate people to actually do something, you have to mix the bad news with a more positive environmental message.
Let's take a fresh look at a couple of tired old sayings you've probably heard a million times, and examine what they mean when comes to raising environmental awareness and encouraging everyday citizens to do their part to preserve the planet for future generations.
You've heard the phrase "look before you leap." But what does that mean when it comes to environmental writing and awareness activities? Savvy communicators know that when the stakes are high, pre-testing your message can help you avoid mistakes and achieve the results you want.
