Dr. Karen Bell

Keep Liberty Beautiful

Water is one of the most vital resources for life on Earth. Every living being depends on clean and safe water for health, agriculture, industry, and daily activities. However, human activities have caused significant pollution, threatening not only aquatic ecosystems but also human well-being. Protecting this valuable resource is not just the job of governments or organizations, it is the responsibility of every individual.

Clean water is essential for drinking, sanitation, and food production. Yet millions of people worldwide still lack access to safe drinking water due to pollution and overuse. By understanding where pollution comes from and taking proactive steps to reduce it, we can ensure sustainable water for future generations.

Water pollution occurs when harmful substances, such as chemicals, waste, or microorganisms, contaminate rivers, lakes, oceans, or groundwater.

These pollutants can come from various sources, primarily point and nonpoint sources. Instead of polluting, consider these actions:

• Pick up your trash.

• Recycle your old tires.

• Compost your lawn clippings.

• Prevent run-off from your farm.

• Use cloth grocery bags instead of paper or plastic.

• Have your old muffler replaced.

• Recycle used motor oil and old paint.

• Use a refillable water bottle.

• Collect rainwater for your garden.

• Reuse and recycle everything you possibly can.

To better understand how we can protect our environment, consider learning about local pollution sources and how they impact our water quality. Recognizing the difference between pointsource pollution and nonpoint-source pollution helps us identify where to focus our cleanup efforts and community actions.

A point source of pollution comes from a single identifiable location — such as a pipe, a factory drainage outlet, or an industrial plant. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines point-source pollution as contamination entering the environment from a single, easily identified, and controlled location.

Nonpoint-source pollution, however, is much harder to control because pollutants are spread out over a large area. For example, the ponds at Bryant Commons in Hinesville collect litter washed through storm drains from surrounding streets. Volunteers regularly remove cigarette butts, cups, cans, plastic bottles, and fast-food containers that careless individuals toss aside. That litter travels with stormwater and ends up in our waterways — one piece at a time. This is a classic example of nonpoint-source pollution. Unfortunately, nonpoint-source pollution is the greatest threat to our local waterways. It results from water runoff moving across the ground and picking up natural and human-made pollutants along the way. Those pollutants eventually end up in rivers, lakes, ponds, wetlands, coastal waters, and even underground drinking water supplies. That is why the issue is often called stormwater pollution.

Common types of nonpoint pollutants include:

• Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from roads and industries

• Sediment from construction, farmland, or eroding stream banks

• Fertilizer salts, pesticides, and drainage from

• Bacteria and nutrients from animal waste and failing septic systems

• Litter — one of the most visible and preventable pollutants According to the EPA, nonpoint-source pollution is the leading cause of water quality damage in the United States. It harms wildlife, aquatic ecosystems, drinking water, and even our recreation and seafood industries. As our community grows and becomes more developed, these impacts will only increase unless we take action.

Everyone has a role to play. Small changes in our daily routines, community involvement, and adopting environmentally responsible habits make a difference. You can:

• Organize a cleanup in your neighborhood

• Join an existing Adopt Liberty group

• Educate family and friends about pollution prevention

• Reduce waste and recycle whenever possible Keep Liberty Beautiful offers free cleanup supplies, including garbage bags, safety vests, gloves, litter reachers, and water, to support volunteers’ efforts. Contact us to learn how you can access these resources and help keep Liberty County beautiful.

There is still time to participate in a Rivers Alive cleanup and receive a free Keep Liberty Beautiful T-shirt. Groups, families, businesses, and individuals are welcome.

For more information or to schedule a cleanup, contact: Keep Liberty Beautiful (912) 880-4888 klb.volunteer@libertycountyga. gov Together, we can make Liberty County a healthier, cleaner, and brighter place to live. Every person matters, and every action counts. Our community’s strength lies in our collective effort.