Head: (Your organization's letterhead)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE:
CONTACT:
(Name)
(Phone)
PROTECT DRINKING WATER BY SMART CLEANING
*[See below for alternative introduction] Now, that spring has arrived, it's time to do your annual spring cleaning. Did you know that a thorough cleaning can even help protect the water your family drinks? Don't undo your hard work to protect your home and the environment by disposing of cleaning and other household products improperly. Remember everyone can do something to protect drinking water.
A simple thing like letting pet waste build up in your yard can pose problems for drinking water. Rain can carry the germs in pet waste into lakes and other water sources. It also can carry away oil, anti-freeze, brake fluid and other car products that are not cleaned up from your driveway. Using your hose to wash your car or rinse your driveway causes similar problems.
As you start cleaning and repair projects, you will find yourself handling more hazardous products like solvents, glues, stains and paints, and wondering what to do with them when you are done. These should never be dumped outside or down your toilet or sink. It is very important to properly get rid of things you do not want. You may be able to share leftover cleaning products with neighbors. If you are a do-it-yourself mechanic, look for places that recycle used oil or anti-freeze. You can simplify the problems by choosing less hazardous alternatives. Instead of paint stripper, use sand paper, a scraper or a heat gun for small jobs.
When cleaning out basements or garages, it is tempting to throw everything in the trash, but some things do not belong in there. Fluorescent bulbs, thermostats and thermometers contain mercury, a dangerous chemical that can be recycled. Your community may have special collection programs such as clean sweeps that accept unwanted paints, pesticides and other chemicals.
Ask yourself these questions to see if you are doing your part to protect everyone's drinking water.
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you are ready to learn about actions to avoid problems. Even if you answered "no" to each question, you may still have room for improvement. Being smart with hazardous products involves many issues such as safe storage. What are you doing to prevent your children from needless injure caused by hazardous products?
What can you do?
Home*A*Syst can help you take action. Based on the concept of a home energy audit, Home*A*Syst is a tool that non-experts can use to identify a range of environmental and health risks in and around the home. In addition to improved management of hazardous products and reducing runoff, Home*A*Syst will help address a range of risks from activities outside the home— septic systems management, yard and garden care, and private well maintenance— and inside the home— unhealthy indoor air, and lead exposure in water pipes and paint.
By using Home*A*Syst, you can develop a plan filled with simple and low-cost action that can go a long way in preventing problems. Armed with information, you can take steps to transform your house into a healthy home, where family health is safeguarded and property value is protected.
For information about the Home*A*Syst program in your state, you can locate a local program coordinator by visiting either of these web sites: Home*A*Syst (http://www.uwex.edu/homeasyst). You may also contact the national Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst office at 303 Hiram Smith Hall, 1545 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1289, 608-262-0024, email: homeasyst@uwex.edu, farmasyst@uwex.edu. These groups also may have program information: local county Extension office, Soil and Water Conservation District, Natural Resource Conservationist or state water quality agency.
* [Alternative introduction] Spring cleaning started as a New Year's ceremony to ward off evil and cleanse home. It has now become a once-a-year ritual everyone does. As you gear up for the big clean, the last thing you want is evil "spirits" coming back to haunt you. This can happen if you are not careful in doing your cleaning or disposing of hazardous products. Chemicals and other substances can find their way into the water that your family drinks. Everyone can do something to protect drinking water.