Have you ever poured used paint thinner, leftover paint, or expired medications down the drain?

Yes, but now that I’ve thought about it, maybe it’s not such a good idea.

I might have but I don’t remember for sure.

Yes, but now that I’ve thought about it, maybe it’s not such a good idea.

What do you think happens to the water that goes down your household drain or toilets?

I learned about this in science class but can’t recall all the gory details.

I never thought about it. Out of sight, out of mind.

I think it goes somewhere to be treated.

I learned about this in science class but can’t recall all the gory details.

It's a hot day and your dirty car is sitting in the driveway with the words "Wash me" scrawled on its windshield. So you:

Go to the car wash at the first possible opportunity.

Go at it in the driveway with the old hose, pail and detergent–it’s cheaper than the car wash and you’ll burn a few calories.

Cross your fingers and hope for rain.

How concerned are you about keeping water clean?

I know it’s an issue that affects people in developing countries. I didn’t think it affected me.

Not much, I never really thought about it until now.

I know it’s an issue that affects people in developing countries. I didn’t think it affected me.

I’m deeply concerned about water quality today and in the future.

Test Your Knowledge With This Water Quiz

1.

Have you ever poured used paint thinner, leftover paint, or expired medications down the drain?
- A.
  
  I might have but I don’t remember for sure.
- B.
  
  No, never.
- C.
  
  Yes, but now that I’ve thought about it, maybe it’s not such a good idea.
Correct Answer
C. Yes, but now that I’ve thought about it, maybe it’s not such a good idea.

Explanation
Good thinking! It's never a good idea to pour waste, chemicals or medications down the drain. It's not only bad for the environment, but takes a tremendous amount of energy and lots of chemicals to treat that water before it's released to our natural waterways or used for irrigation. Even then, it may still be polluted. Eventually, this water could find its way back into our taps, so we must clean it again—using even more chemicals and energy—before it's safe to drink.

It takes water to generate energy and energy to treat water, so the cleaner we keep our water at source, the less energy required to treat it.

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2.

What do you think happens to the water that goes down your household drain or toilets?
- A.
  
  I never thought about it. Out of sight, out of mind.
- B.
  
  I think it goes somewhere to be treated.
- C.
  
  I learned about this in science class but can’t recall all the gory details.
Correct Answer
C. I learned about this in science class but can’t recall all the gory details.

Explanation
This might help jog your memory. Wastewater from homes in most cities flows through an underground sewer system to a water treatment plant. Then, it’s released to lakes or rivers, or used for irrigation.

Where does the water go?
In most urban communities, wastewater from people’s homes travels through underground pipes to a treatment plant where solids and bacteria are removed. The treated water is released into a river or lake or diverted for other uses, like agricultural irrigation. Eventually, some of that water finds its way back into our taps. It’s one big cycle.

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3.

It's a hot day and your dirty car is sitting in the driveway with the words "Wash me" scrawled on its windshield. So you:
- A.
  
  Go to the car wash at the first possible opportunity.
- B.
  
  Go at it in the driveway with the old hose, pail and detergent–it’s cheaper than the car wash and you’ll burn a few calories.
- C.
  
  Cross your fingers and hope for rain.
Correct Answer
A. Go to the car wash at the first possible opportunity.

Explanation
Good choice, since a commercial car wash probably has a system for recycling wastewater.

Chemical contamination is a major threat to water quality. Even the largest fresh surface water system on earth-the Great Lakes–is a soup of over 360 chemical compounds that can slowly poison fish, birds and mammals and could be dangerous for humans as well. Certain pollutants are even considered ‘gender benders,’ turning male fish into females.

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4.

Every day dirty water and poor sanitation cause how many deaths worldwide? Would you say it's the equivalent of ...
- A.
  
  100 taxi cabs full of people
- B.
  
  100 buses full of people
- C.
  
  100 jumbo jets full of people
Correct Answer
C. 100 jumbo jets full of people

Explanation
Exactly. Sadly, 30,000 people—including about 4,000 children—die each day as a result of contaminated water and poor sanitation.

About 1.1 billion people, or 18 percent of the world’s population, can’t get safe drinking water. At any given time, half of the hospital beds in developing countries are occupied by patients suffering from a water-related disease.

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5.

How concerned are you about keeping water clean?
- A.
  
  Not much, I never really thought about it until now.
- B.
  
  I know it’s an issue that affects people in developing countries. I didn’t think it affected me.
- C.
  
  I’m deeply concerned about water quality today and in the future.
Correct Answer
B. I know it’s an issue that affects people in developing countries. I didn’t think it affected me.

Explanation
This problem affects everyone, including people in wealthy countries. And it will get worse in years to come as the global population continues to grow, resulting in more people competing for the limited amount of fresh water we have on earth.

We urge you to learn more about this important issue, which affects everyone, including you. Today, people are starting to realize that water truly is one of the earth’s most precious resources. For instance, in a recent poll, more than half of Canadians said water is even more precious than oil.

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Test Your Knowledge With This Water Quiz

Have you ever poured used paint thinner, leftover paint, or expired medications down the drain?

What do you think happens to the water that goes down your household drain or toilets?

It's a hot day and your dirty car is sitting in the driveway with the words "Wash me" scrawled on its windshield. So you:

Every day dirty water and poor sanitation cause how many deaths worldwide? Would you say it's the equivalent of ...

How concerned are you about keeping water clean?