UNDERSTAND YOUR IMPACT
Now that you’ve tested your water, it’s important to understand what the results mean for the health of your local water resources. Turbidity, pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen are indicators that help us understand what’s happening in our waterways and they provide us with information on what needs to be done to improve water quality. For example, if you have found consistently high turbidity at your site a new riparian buffer could help. Low dissolved oxygen concentrations can be increased by reintroducing or adding structures that aid in creating turbulence. Low pH levels can be increased by restoring surrounding degraded wetlands. Learn more here.
From the products we use to the food we eat, the things we do every day have an impact on our water and the environment. Taking steps to understand that impact can help you identify and make simple changes to improve water quality and health. Levels of action can range from visual surveys, to litter pick-ups, to one-time habitat improvement projects. Find ways you can take action here.
Many communities have local organizations that are involved in efforts to improve water quality and health. They can be great allies in identifying ways to improve your local water resources. Visit EPA’s National Directory of Volunteer Environmental Monitoring Programs to get started today.