CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION

By Alka Mohanty

Causes of water pollution - what can we do?

 So what can we do to reduce some of these causes of water pollution?

Water pollution is an issue which needs good co-ordination between government bodies and other public authorities to solve. More causes of water pollution seem to emerge year on year!

But there are a few things we can do at home.*

Here are a few suggestions for ways to prevent water pollution from domestic sources.

Preventing domestic causes of water pollution

Always dispose of chemicals such as unwanted oil, petrol or household cleaners in the proper manner. Many chemicals are unsuitable for flushing down the sink; local sewage systems are not always able to cope with domestic chemicals.

If in doubt as to how to dispose of any chemicals, consult your local authority.

Do your best to avoid chemical spills and sort out leaks (such as from domestic fuel oil) as quickly as possible.

Avoid using pesticides and other garden chemicals as far as possible. If you must use them, dispose of unused remains according to the recommendations on the packaging.

Always select environmentally-friendly products over other commercial products where possible. For example, practically all domestic cleaning jobs can be tackled using environmentally-friendly products and many personal care products such as skin creams and shampoos have eco-friendly versions which are usually far better for your health, too. See "Natural Household Cleaners" for more on green cleaning techniques and products

Even food causes water pollution; it absorbs oxygen in water. Avoid pouring fats and other food wastes down the sink. Use composting instead if possible. Bokashi composters can cope with fats and even meat products. See "A Bokashi Kitchen Composter" for more on Bokashi composting

Protecting your family from the effects of water pollution

There is not much you can do (in the short term) to stop the local farmer from using chemical fertilisers on his or her land. All the other industrial causes of water pollution are largely outside of our control, too. These problems are clearly political in scope. In order to effect change political lobbying and action are needed. This website is non-political but there are plenty of organisations which are campaigning for more effective controls on polluters. Please consult the links page for pointers.