The movie Dark Waters on Netflix is a valuable reminder about just how precious our waterways are and how important the appropriate disposal of commercial waste is to a community. (amongst other issues highlighted in the movie about being a good corporate citizen)
The best quote from the lead character Robert Bilott was
- The system is rigged. They want us to believe that it'll protect us, but that's a lie. We protect us. We do. Nobody else. Not the companies, not the scientists, not the government. Us.
With National Water Week taking place next week, it is an opportune time to figure out how you can be an active participant in helping protect us:-
NATIONAL WATER WEEK 15-21 OCTOBER 2023
National Water Week inspires individuals, communities, and organisations to build awareness around the value of water. Access to clean water is hugely important to our daily lives, and it's down to all of us to protect our water environments and resources and use water wisely.
Why is Clean Water so Important?
Safe and readily available water is important for public health, whether it is used for drinking, domestic use, food production or recreational purposes. Improved water supply and sanitation, and better management of water resources, can boost countries' economic growth and can contribute greatly to poverty reduction.
The importance of water quality cannot be understated. The lack of access to safe and clean water is one of the largest risk factors for the spread of infectious diseases, such as polio, typhoid, cholera, dysentery, hepatitis, and diarrhea.
Isn’t Clean Water is The Responsibility of Councils and Governments NOT Me?
In our everyday lives, whether at home or in the work environment, we can have negative impacts on the water around us. We might not know it, but we can be a contributing factor in contaminating our waterways and clean water supply.
In What Way?
There are a number of ways to contaminate water: Improperly disposed of chemicals, animal wastes, pesticides, human wastes, wastes injected deep underground and naturally occurring substances all can contaminate drinking water. Industrial discharges, urban activities, agriculture, groundwater pumpage, and disposal of waste all can affect groundwater quality. Contaminants can be human-induced, as from leaking fuel tanks or toxic chemical spills.
Examples of physical contaminants are soil or organic material like algae. Chemical substances include anything from pesticides, nitrogen, bleach, salts, metals, toxins, and other various elements or compounds. Some chemicals are naturally occurring, while others are man-made in origin.
WOW! It is the Small Things We Do That Can Have A Big Impact!
3 Steps you can take to Keep Our Waterways Clean, Safe, and Beautiful
- Step 1 - Use safe storage for any chemicals pesticides and fertilizers, toxic substances, gas cylinders. ...
Dangerous and hazardous goods pose significant risks to a worksite’s staff, property and environment, and must be stored in secure, compliant and purpose-built containers.
The design and construction of dangerous goods storage cabinets vary based on the specific hazardous substance they are designed to store and the requirements of the relevant Australian Standards.
- Step 2 - Contain potential hazardous spills in the workplace with Spill Pallets, Spill Socks and Waste Bags
Safely store, collect and dispense oils and chemicals in and around the workplace. Australian Laws and Regulations indicate that spill containment is required where oils and hazardous chemicals are stored in a workplace. Spill Pallets and Decks are required to prevent and prepare for oils spills, and to reduce injury and risk. Spill pallets prevent dangerous substances from affecting the environment by containing leaks and spills at the source.
- Step 3 - Avoid littering in the workplace with appropriate safe Smokers Ceasefires
The safe and tidy way to handle cigarette butts offers not only an attractive way of disposing of unsightly cigarette butts but also a safe way. Eliminate the need for "containers full of sand" or "drums" that are often used as rubbish bins and can be knocked over or become a fire hazard.
Ultimately it is the responsibility of each and every one of us to enforce Workplace Health and Safety and ensure the long term health of our environment.
Pollutants like litter, sediment and oil are the major cause of pollution and contamination of our rivers, creeks, lakes and bays. Most of the time it’s everyday activities that cause urban stormwater pollution, but occasionally it is through major spills in our workplace, or industrial accidents.
You and your workplace can play a vital role in keeping our Water Clean.
For more information on National Water Week visit the website.