Healthy Household Solutions
Green
is in, and many people are finding easy ways of making their home more efficient
and safer. Conserving water is important and protecting our water sources
is a must.
Many everyday household products and materials contain a diverse range of chemicals, including some which pose a threat to health and the environment. Domestic products containing chemicals include paints; cleaning agents, such as detergents; varnishes; cosmetics; weed killers; insecticides; baits; and wood, pool and pet treatments. Proper disposal is important for maintaining clean water and groundwater.
If you have a technical question we can help. Call NESC toll free at (800) 624-8301 or e-mail info@mail.nesc.wvu.edu and ask for technical assistance.
Our Free Products
- Don't flush those old meds! Plus PPCPs Poster (pdf) -Pipeline, Winter 2007- How do Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) get into our waterways? People flush them of course.
- Homeowners Guidance Page - Whether you're building a new house or buying an old one, maintaining your onsite drinking water and wastewater systems is a task that should not be neglected..
- Water Conservation Page - Organized by the NDWC to help communities and individuals develop water-saving strategies, and educate the public about water use.
EPA Free Downloads
- The free products, tools, and online resources below are provided by our funding sponsor, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These links will open new web pages.
- Getting Information about your Tap Water (Web site)- Frequently asked questions are answered by the EPA about safe tap water, taste and odor concerns, and more.
- Lead in Drinking Water (Web site)- Commonly used in household plumbing materials and water service lines, lead in drinking water can also cause a variety of adverse health effects, especially in young children.
- Learn About Chemicals Around Your House (Web site)-This interactive tool is designed to help children learn about chemicals around their house room-by-room.
- 10 Tips to Protect Children from Pesticide and Lead Poisonings (Web site)-These simple steps can help you save children from environmental hazards around the home.
Bathroom Revamp: Savings by the Gallon (Web site), National Geographic Society - How much water is your old bathroom using? Maybe much more then you think.- Don't Flush That Pill: What happens to pharmaceuticals in wastewater? (Web site), National Geographic Society - With 45 percent of Americans taking at least one prescription drug, we flush away a constant flow of old and unused medications that keep on working after they disappear down drains, moving to wastewater-treatment plants and into waterways. The troubles arise once medications reach sewage-treatment plants.
- DIY Household Cleaners (Web site), National Geographic Society - This article explains how to make your own cleaners from healthier, less-toxic ingredients.
- Green Home Makeover (Web site), National Geographic Society - Whole house examination, from products to paints, this useful interactive guide is well done and fun.