How to Protect Rivers From Pollution

By an eHow Contributor

Rivers provide some of our most beautiful and most endangered natural habitats. Whether you
enjoy whitewater rafting down a wild, clear mountain river or drifting serenely on a slow, gentler
river, rivers give us places to enjoy nature. Sadly, rivers face pollution from many sources:
farming, industry and even tourism. It is important to protect rivers from pollution in order to
save them for our ourselves and future generations.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions
In the Community

1. 1

Visit a nearby river. You can't begin to fight pollution until you see the problem for
yourself. Spend some time on the closest river to you, so that you can begin to understand
the beauty and the variety of life it supports.

2. 2

Educate yourself. You can't begin to protect rivers until you know what their problems
are. Contact local environmental groups for information about rivers in your
neighborhood.

3. 3

Join an environmental group. Often group efforts are more effective than individual
efforts. Working together with others who are committed to protecting your river can get
your voice heard by legislators and the public.

4. 4

Have the water tested. Take a water sample to your local public health unit for testing.
You will need facts about river pollution to enlist the support of public officials and
individuals.

5. 5

Speak out. Take advantage of opportunities to speak about pollution in your river at local
commission and state meetings. This is a perfect opportunity to educate others about the
need to protect your river.
6. 6

Practice what you preach. Organize or help with efforts to clean up the river. Volunteers
can pick up garbage from river banks to promote a cleaner, healthier environment.

At Home

7. 1

Buy phosphate-free detergents and fertilizers. The phosphorus in these products is one of
the major pollutants of rivers nationwide.

8. 2

Purchase cleaning products without nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs). When these

chemicals pollute local rivers, they disrupt the endocrine systems of fish living in the
river and can cause birth defects and deformities.

9. 3

Take old and unwanted household chemicals to hazardous waste collection centers.
Pouring them down the drain eventually introduces them into your local rivers and
watersheds. Discard them safely to protect your river.

10. 4

Conserve water. Limiting the amount of water your household pours into the local
wastewater treatment center will limit the amount of pollution you introduce to your local
rivers.