INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Wasting water is one of the biggest ways individuals impact the health of the planet. Taking measures to use less water is something you can start doing right away. If you live in an area with a water shortage, this is even more important for the health of your region's environment. Try to check off as many items as possible from this list:  Check and fix any water leaks. A leaky faucet can waste a lot of water. Install water-saving devices on your faucets and toilets. A low-flow showerhead could be a good start. Don't wash dishes with the water running continuously. Use a method that requires less water to get the dishes clean. Turn off washing machine's water supply to prevent leaks. It doesn't need to be on all the time. Replace old toilets with new ones that use a lot less water. Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes. Doing a half-load wastes water. Don't use too much water to water your lawn. Don't leave the faucet running while you brush your teeth. Chemicals used to wash our bodies, homes, cars and everything else get washed down the drain or absorbed in the grass, and eventually, end up in the water supply. Since most people use heavy-duty chemicals for all sorts of things, chemicals are doing real damage to waterways and aquatic life. The chemicals aren't good for humans, either, so do your best to cut back on them. Here's how:  Learn about alternatives to household cleaning items that do not use hazardous chemicals. For example, using a solution of 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 waterworks as well as most commercial cleaners for basic cleaning jobs. Baking soda and salt are cheap, non-toxic cleansers, but should be used in moderation. When no good alternatives to a toxic item exist, determine the least amount required for an effective, sanitary result and use a minimal amount each time you clean. Paying close attention to the requisite amount will help you reduce and also save money. Instead of using chemical-laden shampoos and soaps, try  making your own. Instead of using pesticides and herbicides, find natural ways to get rid of weeds and pests. Paint, motor oil, ammonia, and a host of other chemicals should not be poured down the drain or directly into the ecosystem. They'll soak into the earth and end up in the groundwater. Contact your local sanitation department to find out about best practices for disposing of hazardous waste and toxic chemicals. Individuals can only do so much when it comes to keeping water clean. Businesses and industries are often the culprits when it comes to water pollution. In order to protect the earth's water, concerned citizens should speak up and find ways to stop pollution at its source.   Join a local environmental group that works to clean up the water in your area, whether it's a river, lake or ocean. Contact your local representative to speak up about your views on keeping water chemical-free. Volunteer to help clean up beaches or riverbanks. Help others get involved in efforts to clean up the water in your area.

SUMMARY: Conserve water at home. Use fewer chemicals. Dispose of toxic waste the right way. Help identify large-scale water polluters.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Even though they may be considered old-fashioned, a printed travel guide can be one of the best companions for your travel.  They will have suggestions for activities and ratings for specific companies.  The information in reputable guides is usually very accurate. Make sure you think of all of your travel companions when booking activities.  If you are traveling with children, be sure planned activities are kid-friendly.  If someone in your group has health or dietary considerations, try to be respectful of those as you plan the trip. If you want to do something special, like a tour of a special collection at a museum, a whale watching trip, a performance, a sunset cruise, or a very fancy dinner, make reservations ahead of time.  If you are going to a popular place during a busy season, special events may fill up, so you will want to be sure to book ahead. Be sure to find out about cancellation policies or rescheduling if you are booking far in advance. If you are planning a vacation, it’s likely that you are making plans for yourself and other people.  It may be fun to plan a surprise—a nice dinner or an exciting excursion—for someone who is traveling with you. As tempting as it may be to plan every moment of your vacation to be sure you get in every activity you want to do, resist the urge to over-plan.  A vacation is supposed to be a break, after all, and a little leisure time or room to participate in an unexpected opportunity can make your trip even more fun and exciting. If you have a long list of activities to do or sights to see, rank them based on how important they are to you.  That way, you will know to make time for the items at the top of the list. If you don’t get to every item, you may be able to return to the same vacation spot in the future and finish your wish list.

SUMMARY: Buy a travel guide. Choose activities everyone can participate in. Book special adventures ahead of time. Plan a surprise. Leave some unplanned time. Prioritize sightseeing or activities.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Occasionally, the BART system encounters delays due to reasons ranging from medical emergencies on trains, equipment issues on trains and tracks, and police activity at stations. If it is very critical for you to be somewhere at a particular time, please aim to take a train that is expected to get you to your location well in advance.  If arriving at a particular time is critical, check before entering the system whether there are any system-wide delays. You can use the BART service advisories and also check for announcements displayed at the station. If the BART delay occurs when you are already in a downtown San Francisco BART station and need to go to a location in San Francisco, consider using the Metro system (which shares station locations with the four downtown San Francisco stations). You can also consider using Uber, Lyft, or other car-ordering services. Order the service when you exit the train so that it arrives by the time you are out on the street. However, keep in mind that car-ordering services may experience significant surge pricing during system-wide BART delays, so check the surge multiplier before you use them. Keep in mind that during system delays, stations can get very crowded. This can make them unsafe to navigate. It can also make it harder to get Internet access through your cellphone, because a large number of people stuck in a small geographical area may be trying to use the Internet to while away their time and communicate to their friends and colleagues that that they are stuck, thus clogging the network.

SUMMARY:
Understand other reasons why delays occur.