A stream draining industrial effluents, sewage, dirt and other toxic substances into the Yamuna river
| Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma

Think of the various products we use to clean ourselves and our homes. Toothpastes, shampoos, soaps, dishwashing soaps and more. Did you know that all of these contain chemicals that pollute the water you use daily? Where does this polluted water go?

Once drained through your washbasin and bathroom, the dirty water — known as sewage — travels for many kilometres through a big network of pipes to specialised buildings known as treatment plants. Here, massive tanks treat millions of litres of water per day, using cleaning chemicals and the power of tiny dirt-eating bacteria. After this, the water is released into rivers and nearby water bodies. All good, right?

Not really. In India, only half the sewage water is treated. This means truckloads of polluted, untreated sewage enter our rivers daily … threatening river ecology and biodiversity.

Sewage contains two major pollutant types: food waste and chemicals from our homes. Soap water with huge quantities of nitrogen, fluorine and phosphorus compounds from untreated sewage damages the chemistry of river water. This “chemical overload” leads to the overgrowth of tiny plants called algae that cover the surface of water bodies entirely. Algae eat up so much oxygen that the fish underwater hardly get any! Water hyacinth is another quick-growing plant that chokes rivers and stops their flow. Also, food waste is eaten by fast-growing bacteria that consume the river’s oxygen, further cutting down the oxygen supply for riverine insects and fish. Soon, underwater life dies off, killing the river. Sadly, many urban rivers and lakes in India suffer this fate due to sewage pollution.

What you can do

Do not lose hope! We can reduce this toxic pollution, starting from our homes. This World Water Day, implement the below changes in your lifestyle and product use to preserve our ailing water bodies:

Use chemical-free products: Today, we have chemical-free, plant-based soaps (made with herbs, lemons, aloe vera and so on) for dishwashing, bathing and floor-cleaning. These are eco-friendly and safer for our lakes and rivers.

Reduce water use: Did you know that filling a bucket of water to bathe saves more water than taking a shower? If you see a leaking tap, ask your parents to get it fixed. This helps save many litres of water per day.

Reuse water: While washing vegetables in the sink, ask your parents to put a big bowl or bucket under the tap and place a strainer or muslin cloth over it. Leave the water till the dirt settles at the bottom and pour the clear water into a watering can. Use it to water plants.