fbpx

Contaminants in Domestic Water

Written by:

Discover how household cleaning can affect the environment and how to take precautions to reduce pollution and save water.

drinking water

When cleaning the house, we automatically think of “good hygiene”; but we do not wonder if it is good for the environment.  

Currently in Mexico and the rest of Latin America, most families use highly polluting products and do not know it.

Some of the most used are those that come into contact with water and form membranes on the walls of rivers and oceans, preventing them from being restored and cleaned on their own.

An example of them are: laundry and dish detergents, cooking oil, paint, shampoo and conditioners, among others. All these products have guides or instructions, which allow us to follow the manufacturer's instructions and not misuse or exceed the amount of product per liter of water, since by using them without measure, the environmental impact is much older.

According to an investigation carried out by the Specialist in Environmental Cleaning, Carmen María Mena; It is believed that when washing dishes we use up to 50 liters of water per minute and that each flush of the toilet goes another 13 liters. But the most shocking figure is when we bathe, where we waste between 90 and 190 liters of water. If we add detergents to this damage,microplastics and polluting products to these activities, the result of their contamination is even greater.

Another problem we face in large cities resides in the wastewater systems, which can sometimes filter due to lack of maintenance, these chemical substances and permeate in the ground to underground water sources and be taken to rivers. and lakes, where are our reservoirs of drinking water.

As Mexicans, now that we have this information, we must become aware of what affects our surroundings and take certain precautions.

The recommendations for greater care and savings would be:

  • Read and follow labels and Product Instructions Separate cooking oil and never let it run down the sink.
  • Change the watering can for a water saver
  • Put a full bottle inside the toilet tank so you can use less water with each flush.
  • Opt for biodegradable products for household activities.

Fortunately, nowadays biodegradable detergents and soaps are already made with organic compounds, caustic soda, recycled cooking oil and some fragrant herbs, which are ingredients that do not pollute the water and may even have the ability to purify them.

Frequently asked questions from our readers:

The most common household contaminants in water are cleaning chemicals, pesticides, medications, heavy metals, personal hygiene products, and food residues. These contaminants can affect water quality and pose a risk to human health if consumed in high concentrations. Read more here: https://www.equilibriumx.com/ecoturismo-y-conservacion/contaminantes-domesticos-del-agua
Did you find this FAQ helpful?

Last modified: March 21, 2024