Fun Facts About Our Environment

Information gathered directly from the EPA website.

Water:

Most Americans get their drinking water from large scale municipal water systems that rely on surface water sources such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs. However, millions of Americans depend on private water sources such as wells and aquifers. In either case, the United States enjoys one of the cleanest drinking water supplies in the world. The EPA regulates the quality of the nation's drinking water by issuing and enforcing safe drinking water standards. EPA also protects the nation's drinking water by safeguarding our watersheds and regulating the release of pollutants into the environment. In partnership with local authorities and community groups, the Agency encourages water conservation. EPA also works with these partners to develop contingency plans for source contamination and other water emergencies.

Recommended EPA Web pages

Ground Water and Drinking Water
This is the home page for the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water and provides information about the programs in place to protect public health by regulating ground and drinking water.

Local Drinking Water Information
Provides local drinking water information for each state.

Drinking Water and Health: What You Need To Know
This publications addresses locating information about your drinking water system.

Air:

The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. The Clean Air Act establishes two types of national air quality standards. Primary standards set limits to protect public health, including the health of "sensitive" populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly. Secondary standards set limits to protect public welfare, including protection against decreased visibility, damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings.

Recommended EPA Web pages

Air Quality
There is a lot of information, linked on this page to information about air quality, and how OAQPS handles air quality.

Air Trends
Links to publications on air quality and emissions.

Air Quality Planning and Standards
The Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards' primary mission is to preserve and improve air quality in the United States.

Green Living

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

What You Can Do

Where Can I Donate or Recycle My Old Computer and Other Electronic Products?

Where can I recycle my other stuff? Go to Earth911.org and type in your zip code.

Hazardous Waste Recycling

Waste Minimization

There are many ways to produce less waste:

Reduce the amount and toxicity of trash you throw away and reuse containers and products.

Recycle as much as possible and buy products with recycled content.

Practice composting by using microorganisms (mainly bacteria and fungi) to decompose organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings.

The concept of reduce, reuse, and recycle is equally important for household hazardous waste and industrial materials.

Household Hazardous Waste: Improper disposal of leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients can pollute

the environment and pose a threat to human health.

Industrial Materials: Industrial non-hazardous wastes that can be recycled and reused are key to a successful resource conservation program.