The state of our waterways is often in the news – and for the wrong reasons.
In October, the regulator Ofwat announced instructed water companies to provide bill discounts to customers about their abysmal performance on sewage leaks and pollution. And industrial agriculture is in the spotlight because of the disastrous environmental impact that pollution of Britain’s rivers has had.
As individuals, it can seem like we have little control over what ends up in our water. But domestic households contribute to water pollution and related environmental damage in ways you may not be aware of.
There are actions you can take to reduce the problem. Here are six important tips to follow.
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1. Think about what you flush
It is critical that you do not flush anything other than toilet paper down the toilet. Flushing sanitary products and wet wipes can clog sewer pipes – both in your home and down the street.
By the end of 2024, a ban on the sale of wet wipes containing plastic will come into effect. But just because other wipes are plastic-free doesn’t mean they’re flushable. The Fine to Flush logo is even being removed from the packaging due to concerns over that claim.
These wipes can also cause blockages – and they aren’t designed to break down as easily as the ‘biodegradable’ label suggests, causing them to build up in rivers. So make sure you throw all your used wet wipes in the trash.
Also, do not flush unwanted medications down the toilet; your local pharmacy will dispose of them for you.
More information: plastic-free wet wipes and reusable alternatives
2. Think about what goes down the drain
The combination of wet wipes that don’t break down easily, plus grease and grease from the sink, creates monstrous ‘fat piles’ in our sewers.
Refrigerated oil and grease can also clog your household pipes.
Instead of throwing it in the sink, you can put small amounts of cooking oil and grease in the food waste recycling bin. If you don’t use one, or don’t have access to food waste recycling where you live, put the cooled oil in a secure container that you will throw away anyway, and throw it away in your regular waste bin.
The Recycle now website is a good resource to help you determine what to do with specific recyclable and non-recyclable items if you’re not sure how to dispose of them.
The cleaning products you use in your kitchen and bathroom also end up in your pipes and drains. So take the time to read the label to find out what’s in your household cleaners and other chemicals. Make sure they are not labeled ‘hazardous to aquatic organisms’.
An exception to this are environmentally friendly cleaning products that are sold as concentrates and which you then dilute at home. The package may say it is dangerous due to the concentrated product, but if you dilute it according to the instructions, it should be safe. Choose products that are biodegradable and that provide information on how long they take to break down.
Our tests have begun dishwasher tablets, dishwashing liquid And washing powders and detergent include examining the environmental characteristics of the ingredients and packaging used.
Only those that have a lower environmental impact compared to alternatives – and that perform their core task of cleaning well – can be considered a Which? Eco-buy.
3. Buy less synthetic clothing and reduce how often you wash it
Synthetic clothing made from fossil fuel-based fibers such as acrylic and polyester continually releases plastic microfibers – tiny plastic fragments – into the atmosphere, but laundry is the most direct way these enter waterways.
The Plastic Soup Foundation reports that microplastics released from synthetic clothing during washing make up up to 35% of the plastic particles in our oceans. A single load of laundry can produce millions of fibers that are washed down the drain.
There have been calls in Britain and the EU for all new washing machines to be fitted with microplastic filters. In the meantime, you can:
- Wash clothes less often
- Wash a full load, at a lower temperature and on a shorter cycle
- Use less detergent as this causes less friction, which causes the fabric to loosen. Liquid and gel detergents also provide less friction than powder detergents.
- Try a device such as a Guppy bag, which you use to wash synthetic clothing and which helps trap microfibers, or a washing ball or filter that you can retrofit to your machine.
Washing machines and dryers consume a lot of energy. For more information about energy efficient washing, visit our advice page energy efficient washing machines.
4. Reduce your plastic use
Plastic enters our oceans and rivers through direct litter, products we wash away (including microplastics) and from landfills (lightweight plastic can be dispersed by the elements, or lost during transport to and from these locations).
The charity Thames21 has a citizen science program to monitor plastic pollution. The 2020 report shows that almost two-thirds of all lightweight, identifiable plastic in the Thames foreshore comes from five single-use items: food packaging, cotton buds (cotton buds containing plastic are now banned), drink bottles and lids, cups and takeaway containers.
It’s obviously important to properly recycle any plastic you use, but reducing the amount of single-use plastic you use is the most effective step you can take to stem the wave of plastic pollution entering our waters .
Read our guide to learn more about recycling plastics and other materials how to recycle in britain.
5. Leave a natural garden with drainage
If you have a choice, it is important to keep as much soil as possible permeable (meaning it can absorb rainwater). This means that the outdoor space must remain natural – with earth and grass instead of asphalt, concrete or paving.
This helps absorb flood water and runoff during storms and heavy rainfall. This in turn prevents overloaded sewers and prevents dirty water from flowing into our rivers and streams.
Gardeners should also limit your use of fertilizers and pesticides, especially when rain is forecast. The Royal Horticultural Society generally advises against using these at all in late summer or autumn (apart from autumn grass feeding) as they can be washed off and lost in winter.
More information: alternatives to weed killers for paving and paths
6. Keep surface water drains clear
Keep surface drains and gutters clear of leaves and other debris to ensure water flows properly and systems do not deteriorate. Using a rain barrel can also help reduce pressure on drainage systems.
You also need to be very careful about what you put in surface and storm drains – drains that collect water from roofs, driveways and roads. Unlike wastewater drains, which connect from your home and discharge sewage, this water is left untreated and returned directly to waterways.
Dirty water containing cleaning chemicals and bleach (for example, water from mop buckets) should instead be disposed of down the wastewater drain, where it is treated at a sewage treatment plant.
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