Environment Column: How to protect our Lake Ontario
By KEW BEACH ECO CLUB
What is water pollution? Water pollution is the contamination of lakes, rivers, or oceans by hazardous chemicals.
Water pollution happens when these chemicals get into the water, causing it to be harmful to humans and the ecosystem.
Every day, water pollution happens when harmful substances enter our bodies of water and the main drinking water sources.
Things like medications, microplastics, and far more are putting us, Toronto’s animals, and the ecosystem in danger.
As Terri Swearingen, a grassroots eco activist and 1997 Goldman award winner, said, “We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go.”
Unfortunately, when this polluted water gets into the drain, it can end up in Lake Ontario, which is where we get clean drinking water from. When this contaminated water gets into our lakes, it causes bacteria to spread around the area.
Lake Ontario is full of dangerous chemicals, including abrasive cleaning products, pesticides, heavy metals, and many different waste products.
How Can You Help Make a Difference?
- Do not pour cleaning products or chemicals down the sink.
- Do not flush medications down the toilet; instead, bring them to your pharmacist, and they will dispose of them properly.
- Do not use the toilet as a trash can.
- Reduce the use of water so that the excess water will not get into our lakes.
- Make sure you dispose of your waste properly.
- You can help to clean up your local beach or park.
- Reduce how much you put in the garbage.
- Use a reusable water bottle instead of a plastic one.
- Do not use harmful chemicals.
- Join an environmental group to help clean up our water sources.
Our sources: 10 Things You Can do to Protect Our Water from the University of Arkansas, and Water Pollution in Toronto from the Toronto Environmental Alliance.
- This column was written by members of the Kew Beach Junior Public School Eco Club.
