|
Stroud Scientists at WorkWe All Live Downstream It’s a noble goal, yet one that hasn’t been widely adopted — perhaps because so many of us assume that protecting our water supply is a government responsibility. While that’s true in part, the reality is that each one of us affects the quality of our drinking water — and there’s a lot we can do as individuals to protect it from harmful contaminants and pollutants. The first step is simply to become more informed. Let’s stop for a moment to consider the path of the Delaware River, which provides the drinking water to roughly 17 million people. It’s tributaries — the streams and rivers that flow into it — might be more familiar to you. They include: the Schuylkill, the Brandywine and the Red Clay and White Clay Creeks. Its source is in New York State — yet before it meets the Atlantic Ocean, it must first pass through the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The Delaware River literally connects the residents of hundreds of small towns and several larger cities. The people of Port Jervis, NY are directly linked with those in Easton, PA, and the people of Wilmington, DE with their upstream neighbors in Philadelphia, PA. When one considers that 360-mile journey on which the Delaware Perhaps we’d do some good if the phrase were recast to, “We all Live Upstream.” Why? Because we alone can control our actions — and those actions affect our downstream neighbors. Were we each to consider the Golden Rule when it comes to water, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” we could do a lot to protect our drinking water supplies. How you might ask? Ensure that your septic system is working properly. Conserve water in your home and garden; act as if we’re experiencing a drought everyday. Think about what you pour down the drain, apply to your lawn and your hardtop driveway; if you wouldn’t want to drink it, would your neighbor downstream? Plant a tree. In fact, plant lots of them — because research shows that they not only reduce flooding, but they also help prevent pollutants from entering our water supplies. Understand what it costs to chemically treat and filter your water for human consumption — and that the more we foul it, the costlier that bill becomes. Promote the ordinances and other legislation that enforce best management practices in your communities. Be part of the solution — and tell your family, your friends and neighbors to do the same. Finally, be thankful to the too few individuals and agencies that actually do monitor our streams and rivers — the source of your drinking water and the lifeblood of our communities. Senior research scientist and director, Bern Sweeney, wrote to The News Journal in Wilmington, DE to share his thoughts. See his letter to the editor at: World Water Monitoring Day |
September 18th was World Water Monitoring Day — an event that probably didn’t get your attention — but should have. The intention of its organizers is to use this annual event to build awareness and get individuals like you and me involved in protecting our drinking water supplies. 
encounters hundreds of municipal sewage treatment plants, more than one thousand approved wastewater discharges, the port of Philadelphia — and the countless accidental misdemeanors by businesses, farmers, and frankly, individuals just like you and me — it starts to really drive home the meaning of the phrase, “We all Live Downstream.” 
© 2008 Stroud Water Research Center. Stroud and the Stroud Water Research Center logo are trademarks and the Leaf Pack Network is a registered trademark of the Stroud Water Research Center. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.