August is National Water Quality Month and there is a lot to know when it comes to your water.

National Water Quality Month was founded in 2005 by the Environmental Protection Agency and backed by the United Nations to provide people with clean, safe drinking water. However, before there was a National Water Quality Month, there was the Clean Water Act of 1972 and the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974. The Clean Water Act (CWA) was a step toward making it illegal to dump high amounts of toxic material into waterways. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was made to protect the quality of groundwater and public water systems.

While these acts are fundamental to the protection of our water, there’s more that goes into keeping our water safe. Pollutants can get in our water easily, some of which include untreated waste, industrial effluent materials, pesticides, fertilizers, and chemicals used at home. Fertilizers are particularly dangerous because when they runoff into waterways, the nutrients create excess algae, which depletes the oxygen supply in water. This process is called eutrophication, and it suffocates the aquatic life, creating dead zones.

Even in national parks, where conservation of nature is of utmost importance, the waterways are still negatively impacted. The National Park Conservation Association reports that, by CWA standards, 52 percent of streams located on national park grounds are considered “impaired.”

Unsafe water is not just a risk to aquatic life. In the most recent State of the Water Industry (SOTWI) report, 60 percent of people said they are concerned with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) being in their drinking water, while 53 percent were concerned with pathogens. The report also showed that the public’s opinion of the current water state declined since the previous year.

With only one percent of the earth’s water easily accessible, it’s imperative to protect our water sources. Fortunately, the SDWA provides guidance to the public on water standards, collects data on drinking water, and oversees state drinking water programs to help keep our water clean and safe. States and the EPA also require water systems to test for contaminants, review plans for improvements, conduct on-site inspections and sanitary surveys, provide training, and take action against water systems not meeting standards.

If the water system is not up to standards, its customers will be notified shortly after it’s discovered. Some customers may even get annual reports on their water’s quality. Water systems nationwide rely on the public to help set priorities, make decisions, and establish programs to protect water sources. Everyone can have an impact on their water.

In Berks County, water quality is a priority. According to the latest State of the Environment Report by Berks Nature, impaired streams are showing improvement and drinking water remains well-protected. Of the 70 community water systems in the county, 46 have Source Water Assessment and Protection Programs in place. However, stream life is only moderately healthy, with a fair number of macroinvertebrates found in most streams.

The biggest area of concern, both in Berks County and across the country, are watersheds. Respondents to the SOTWI report identified watersheds as their top concern, a priority that has persisted for many years. Watersheds need renewal and restoration to ensure safety.

Impervious surfaces lack trees and vegetation to soak up rainfall, so it runs straight into waterways. This can cause accelerated pollution and erosion. To keep a stream healthy and safe, its watershed’s impervious surfaces should not exceed 10 percent. Eight active rivers across Berks have watersheds with over 10 percent impervious surfaces, five of which are located near the City of Reading.

Obviously, it’s important to protect our drinking water, but what can you do? Besides staying informed about your water quality, there are plenty of things to do. Some simple ways you can help are:

• Turn off the water when you’re not using it.
• Use a rain barrel to collect rain.
• Pick up after your pet.
• Don’t use fertilizer with phosphorus.
• Avoid putting cleaning products down the drain.
• Adopt a watershed.
• Get your well checked periodically.
• Plant trees native to your area.
• Organize a stream clean-up.
• Start a monthly beach cleaning club.

National Water Quality Month is dedicated to making the most of what little freshwater we have available. We must protect and repair our waterways because healthy water is essential for our health, agriculture, and environment.

Learn more about how Spotts, Stevens, and McCoy is dedicated to protecting, developing, and managing water resources for future generations.