Ways to Reduce Air Pollution

 Riding a bike or walking instead of driving.

 Taking a bus or carpooling.
 Buying a car that has greater fuel efficiency.
 Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use.
 Using energy efficient light bulbs and appliances.
 Buying fewer things that are manufactured using fossil fuels.

Causes of Water Pollution

 Domestic sewage
These wastes are generated from household activities. The wastes contain urine,
Faeces, laundry waste, etc. These wastes may contain waterborne diseases. Diarrhea,
typhoid, cholera, dysentery, etc. occur due to polluted water. Domestic sewage contains
phosphorus and nitrates which cause an unwanted algal bloom in ponds and lakes.
These affect
the water quality negatively.
 Industrial wastewater
These are wastewater generated through industrial processing. Wastes from iron and
steel industry, food industry, chemicals industry, etc. pollute the water. These can
contain toxic materials like heavy metals. When the waste stream mix with the natural
water bodies, they become harmful to human and other organisms.
 Agricultural waste
These include pesticide, chemical fertilizer, manure, etc. Runoff from agricultural fields
and farmland can go to the nearby ponds, lakes streams, etc. These wastes can seep
through the ground and cause ground water pollution.
 Acid Rain
Sulphur and nitrogen oxides are very toxic and they can get into the atmosphere
through emissions of industry or automobiles. These combine with the atmospheric
water and produce acids. These get mixed with rainwater causing acid rain.
 Global warming
Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide are generated due to industrialization or burning
of fossil fuels. These create a blanket in the atmosphere and traps heat. It causes the
global temperature to rise. As a result, the water temperature increases as well. This
affects the aquatic habitats and can affect the food chain as well.
Water pollution is a very serious problem. We should be careful that our activities don’t
cause water pollution that affects human lives and also the life of aquatic organisms.
Ways to Reduce Water Pollution
1. DO NOT pour fat from cooking or any other type of fat, oil, or grease down the
sink. Keep a “fat jar” under the sink to collect the fat and discard in the solid
waste when full.
2. DO NOT dispose of household chemicals or cleaning agents down the sink or
toilet. Simsbury has a Hazardous Waste Collection day usually from 8:00am to
1:00pm at Henry James School. Connecticut Resource Recovery Authority lists
all collection dates.
3. DO NOT flush pills, liquid or powder medications or drugs down the toilet. For
recommendations on proper disposal for all types of medical wastes, visit the CT
DEP publication here.
4. Avoid using the toilet as a wastebasket. Most tissues, wrappers, dust cloths, and
other paper goods should be properly discarded in a wastebasket. The fiber
reinforced cleaning products that have become popular should never be
discarded in the toilet.
5. Avoid using a garbage disposal. Keep solid wastes solid. Make a compost pile
from vegetable scraps.
6. Install a water efficient toilet. In the meantime, put a brick or 1/2 gal container in
the standard toilet tank to reduce water use per flush.
7. Run the dishwasher or clothes washer only when you have a full load. This
conserves electricity and water.
8. Use the minimum amount of detergent and/or bleach when you are washing
clothes or dishes. Use only phosphate free soaps and detergents.
9. Minimize the use of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers. DO NOT dispose of these
chemicals, motor oil, or other automotive fluids into the sanitary sewer or storm
sewer systems. Both of them end at the river.
10. If your home has a sump pump or cellar drain, make certain it does not drain into
the sanitary sewer system. If you are unsure, please call Simsbury Water
Pollution Control at (860) 658-1380 and we can assist in determining the
discharge point.

Causes of Noise Pollution

 Industrial Causes

The high intensity of sound produced by machines in various industries, mills, and
factories are the major causes of industrial noise pollution. Engineering companies,
printing presses, textile mills, and metal works immensely generate noise pollution. The
noise from the machine’s mechanical pneumatic drills, saws, and rotating belts produce
intolerable sounds and are a nuisance to the public.
Residents in areas neighboring industries or manufacturing facilities report intense
sound levels that can damage hearing ability. Industrial towns which are close to
residential areas have habitually caused discomfort and nuisance to the
residents. Within the industries, it is mandatory for workers to wear earplugs to shield
them against the entry of loud noise.

 Agricultural Machinery

Agricultural machinery like thrashers, tube wells, power saw, tractors, power tillers, and
harvesters have proved to produce high levels of noise when under operation. As part
of agricultural mechanization to make work easier, they have equally qualified and noise
generating sources. In the state of Punjab in India, noise levels in the ranges of 90 dB to
98 dB have been recorded owing to the operations of agricultural machinery. People
who use the machines, for instance, tractors and harvesters have to put on noise proof
gadgets.

 Household Utilities

Household utilities are sources of noises and can cause disturbance to the peace of the
mind. Common sources household noise pollutants include domestic gadgets such as
pressure cookers, washing machines, mixer-grinders, desert coolers, air conditioners,
sewing machines and vacuum cleaners.

Electrical devices like radios, transistors, TVs, musical instruments, telephones, and
loudspeakers are also sources of noise pollution. Besides, household behaviors like the
banging of doors, crying of infants, moving furniture, loud quarrels, house renovations,
playing of children, and so on contribute to indoor noise pollution.

These gadgets and household behaviors can be very noisy thereby causing disturbance
to everyone in the neighborhood. Statistically, household utilities are the principal
sources of neighborhood noises.

 Transportation

Transportation causes of noise pollution predominantly encompass noise from traffic,

rails, and aircraft. The numbers of automobiles on the roads are increasingly becoming
overwhelming owing to automobile revolution in urban settings.

Scooters, motorcycles, cars, buses, and trucks have rapidly increased in number since
the last century further exacerbating the problem of transport noise. Noise intensity in
most residential places neighboring towns is always high because of widespread
vehicular noise pollution. Increased traffic has brought about traffic jams and automobile
congestion that produce noise via repeated hooting.
Airplanes, jets, and helicopters also constantly make big sounds over the houses
adjacent to busy airports. In big cities like Mumbai, London, or Chicago noise from
airplanes amounts to an ever escalating serious problem. High levels of noise pollution
in metropolitan areas can deafen the elderly.

 Public Addresses and Alarm Systems

In some countries with lax noise pollution policies, people have the least excuse for
using loudspeakers. They are used for reasons including birth, marriage and death
ceremonies, commercial advertising, and religious functions. During elections and
demonstrations, public address systems are also commonly used. Accordingly, public
address systems in their own way contribute to noise pollution.

On the other hand, alarm systems offer effective ways of keeping off intruders from
residential houses or protecting against car theft. However, at times, they cause
unwanted and unpleasant noise which disrupts the ability to concentrate on other
activities.

 Social Events

Social events like worship places, parties, gigs and discos, and so on create a great
deal of noise for the people residing in that area. For instance, worship events produce
loud noises from the instruments used to amplify the voices and sounds from the
pulpit. However, the loud sounds from these social events are mainly termed as
‘nuisance’ as opposed to noise pollution. Still, they hamper normal activates like
conversation, sleeping, or upsets one’s quality of life.

 Defense Machinery

A good deal of noise pollution is added to the environment by military tanks, explosions,
shooting practices, military airplane training, and rocket launching. High-pitched noises
from sonic booms and jet engines have a deafening impact on the ears. Furthermore,
these high-pitched noises have in some extreme cases shattered window panes and old
dilapidated structures.

 Storms

Storms like hurricanes, cyclones, tornadoes can be very devastating and can create
immense noise pollution. The loud noises made by these storms can cause disruption in
your daily activities and may put intense pressure on your ears. Similarly, lightning and
thunderstorms create high-pitched noises that may affect your hearing ability.
  Other Sources

Construction works, blasting, stone crushing, bulldozing, welding, automobile repair

activities, quarrying and so on are miscellaneous causes of noise pollution. People
involved in these activities at times have to wear earplugs to prevent them from
deafening exposure. The residents of areas boarding where these activities take place
normally complain of unpleasant and intense noise.

Ways to Reduce Noise Pollution

 Turn off Appliances at Home and offices

 Shut the Door when using noisy Machines

 Use Earplugs

 Lower the volume

 Stay away from Noisy area

 Follow the Limits of Noise level

 Control Noise level near sensitive areas

 Go Green by planning trees

 Create Healthy noise to eliminate unwanted noise

 Use Noise absorbents in noisy machineries

 Use Proper Lubrication and Better maintenance

 Notify Authorities about Disobedience of Noise Rules

 Regularly check noise levels