Many of us may be contributing to water pollution without even realizing it. Before you exclude yourself as part of the problem, check off which of the following situations might exist at your home.
- Leaking, overflowing, or outdated septic tank
- Vehicles that leak oil, antifreeze, transmission, or brake fluid
- Large paved or impervious surfaces that drain directly into streets or storm drains
- Bare, unplanted areas from which soil erodes when it rains
- Downspouts or drain pipes that empty water into the street or storm sewer system
- Yard clippings, fertilizer, or pesticide left on streets and sidewalks
- Using a hose to clean your driveway and walkways
- Over-watering of gardens or lawns
- pet or animal waste left in the street, on sidewalks, or on the ground
- Improper storage and disposal of pesticides, gasoline, oil, paint, etc.
- Using storm drains to dispose of yard waste or chemicals
- Lawns or gardens not fertilized deeply enough, or over fertilized
- Lack of landscaping that would allow water to infiltrate the soil
The good news is that everyone can help improve the condition of our water just by being aware of these things, and making small changes to prevent further pollution of our water.
Any community water system that serves more than 100,000 people is required to make its Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) available to customers on a publicly accessible website.
These reports will tell consumers what contaminants (if any) have been detected in their drinking water, how these detection levels compare to drinking water standards, and where the water comes from.
Contact your water supplier to get a copy of your report.
Many of us tend to take for granted clean drinking water for our home and gardens. But the way we design and tend to our landscapes, build and maintain our homes, and dispose of and treat our trash and other solid wastes impacts our water quality.
There’s a lot to know about ground water and drinking water quality where you live. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) makes it easy to find information on water quality.
For information:
- Visit the EPS’s website to learn about the water you drink.
- Call EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
- Order publications from EPA on various topics from source water protection to home well use.
During this National Water Quality month, take the opportunity to be informed about the water quality where you live.
People often focus on how to decorate and improve the inside of their homes, but they overlook the improvements to the outside of the home!
By making simple changes to the overall visual appearance of your home’s exterior and landscaping, you can not only increase your enjoyment and satisfaction while living there, you will also increase your ‘curb appeal’ when you are selling your home.
Too often people put off these simple, relatively inexpensive improvements until they are ready to sell and by doing this they miss out on the opportunity to fully experience living in a home that is an expression of themselves (not the previous owner). They only see the house at its best when they are ready to pass it on to the buyer.
For those of you who are planning on selling your home soon, making these changes will create a ‘come on in’ look for any prospective buyers.
Here are some tips for increasing your home’s curb appeal:
- Patch cracks on the driveway. This can be done professionally, or with a do-it-yourself kit from your local hardware store.
- Power-wash your cement driveway and walkways. This will remove oil, rust, dirt, and other stains that may be present, and give it that fresh clean look.
- Consider adding inexpensive vinyl shutters on the exterior next to windows. This give more dimension to the home.
- Add window boxes with seasonal flowers, or add planters with flowers on a porch or wide entry to add beauty and richness.
- Prune & trim your plants and shrubs for a well cared for look. Well-manicured, clutter-free yards are always appealing.
- Plant an assortment of flowers around the base of a tree in the front lawn. Consider using mature plants rather than seedlings or young plants.
- Take a realistic look at your house and compare it to other homes in the neighborhood. It it appears faded, consider a fresh coat of paint.
- Last, but not least, CLEAN YOUR WINDOWS~! This is a very strong indicator that the house is well cared for.
Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression!
Here is a little information on home warranties for resale and new homes.
Resale Home Warranties-
When you purchase a resale home, you can purchase a home warranty plan that will protect you against most ordinary flaws and breakdowns for at least the first year of occupancy. The warranty may be offered by the Seller as part of the overall package, but if it is not offered, it is well worth the investment to purchase it yourself. A home warranty program will give you peace of mind, knowing the major covered components of your home will be repaired if necessary. Coverage for home warranty plans start with a basic plan with an option to purchase additional coverage for specific things like appliances, pool equipment, and air-conditioning. Your real estate agent will be able to provide you with names of local home warranty companies in your area. I suggest contacting the companies to inquire about their pricing, coverage, and deductibles for service calls.
New Home Warranties-
When you purchase a newly built home, the builder usually offers some sort of full or limited warranty on things such as the quality of design, materials, and workmanship. These warranties are usually for a period of one-year from the date of purchase of the home. At closing the builder will assign to you the manufacturer’s warranties that were provided to the builder for materials, appliances, fixtures, etc. For example, if your dishwasher were to become faulty within one year from the purchase of your newly built home, you would call the manufacturer of the dishwasher – not the builder.
If the home builder does not offer a warranty, BE SURE TO ASK WHY!
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