It may feel like we have little personal impact on what's in our water. But domestic households contribute to water pollution and its associated environmental damage in ways that you might not be aware you're doing.
There are actions you can take to reduce the problem – here are six key tips to follow.
Live more sustainably -1. Think about what you flush
It's crucial not to flush anything apart from toilet roll down the toilet. Flushing sanitary products and wet wipes can cause blockages in sewage pipes in your own home or further down the line.
A ban on the sale of plastic-containing wet wipes is set to be in place by the end of 2024. But just because other wipes are plastic-free, doesn't make them flushable. In fact, the 'Fine to Flush' logo is being removed from use do to concerns about that claim.
They can also cause blockages and aren't designed to break down as easily as 'biodegradable' labels might suggest, leading to them accumulating in rivers. So make sure you put used wet wipes in the bin.
Don't flush unwanted medicines either – pharmacies will dispose of them for you.
2. And consider what goes down the sink
The combination of wet wipes that don't easily disintegrate plus fat and grease from kitchen sinks creates monstrous 'fatbergs' in our sewer systems.
And cooled oil and fat can block up your own household pipes too.
Instead of putting it in the sink, you can put small amounts of cooking oil and grease in your food waste recycling bin. If you don't use one, or don't have access to food waste recycling where you live, put cooled oil in a secure container that you're throwing away anyway, and dispose of it in your general waste bin.
The cleaning products you use in your kitchen and bathroom also make their way into your sinks and drains, so it's worth thinking about what's in them. Make sure household cleaners and other chemicals that end up being washed away are not labelled as 'hazardous to aquatic life'.
The execption is some eco-friendly cleaning products that are sold as concentrates for you to dilute at home. The packaging may say this in reference to the concentrated product, but if used as instructed then they should be safe once diluted with water. Choose products that are biodegradable and give information about how long they take to break down.
3. Buy less synthetic clothing and reduce how often you wash it
Items of clothing made of fossil fuel-based fibres such as acrylic and polyester release plastic microfibres – tiny plastic fragments. Synethic textiles are continuously shedding these, but laundry is the most direct way they get into waterways.
The Plastic Soup Foundation reports that microplastics that shed from synthetic clothes when they're being washed account for up to 35% of the plastic particles in our oceans. A single laundry load can produce millions of fibres that are washed down the drain.
There have been calls in the UK and EU to fit all new washing machines with microplastic filters. In the meantime, you can:
4. Reduce your plastic use
Plastic ends up in our oceans and rivers through direct littering, products we flush away (including microplastics) and from landfill sites (lightweight plastic can be moved by wind and weather, or lost during transport to and from these sites).
The charity Thames21 has a citizen science programme to monitor plastic pollution. Its 2020 report found that nearly two-thirds of all lightweight identifiable plastic that it found in the tidal Thames foreshore came from five single use items – food wrappers, cotton bud sticks (cotton buds containing plastic have now been banned), drinks bottles and lids, cups and takeaway containers.
Recycling any plastic you use properly is obviously important, but reducing how much single-use plastic you use is the most effective step you can take in stemming the tide of plastic pollution entering our waters.
5. Leave a natural garden with drainage
Where you have a choice, it's important to keep as much ground as possible permeable (meaning rain water can absorb into it). That means keeping outside spaces natural with earth and grass rather than tarmac, concrete or paving.
This helps to absorb flood water and run off during storms and heavy rainfall. In turn, that prevents overloaded sewers and stops dirty water flowing into our rivers and streams.
Gardeners should also limit the use of fertlizers and pesticides, particularly if rain is forecast. The Royal Horticultural Society generally advises avoiding using these altogether in late summer or autumn (aside from autumn lawn feed) when they may be washed off and lost over winter.
undefinedundefinedFind out more:6. Keep surface water drains clear
Keep surface water drains and gutters clear of leaves and other debris to ensure water flows correctly and systems don't back up. Using a water butt can also help reduce the pressure on drainage systems.
You should also be very careful of what you put down surface/storm drains – those that collect water from roofs, driveways and roads. Unlike waste water drains that are piped from your home and carry sewage, this water is left untreated and goes directly back into waterways.
Dirty water that contains chemical cleaning products and bleach (water from mop buckets, for example) should go down your waste water drains instead, where it will be treated at a sewage works.
Get more green living tips from Which?source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/six-ways-you-might-be-polluting-water-without-realising-aobWR9V8fLrr