Purifying Water: Natural Methods To Remove Pollution

Water pollution is a pressing environmental issue, with over 70% of the Earth's surface covered in water. Water is also a universal solvent, meaning it can easily dissolve and mix with toxic substances, making it vulnerable to pollution. Water pollution is caused by the contamination of water bodies, such as streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans, by harmful substances, including chemicals and microorganisms. This contamination has severe impacts on public health, leading to diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, and skin infections, and is responsible for more deaths annually than war and violence combined. While it is challenging to reverse the effects of water pollution, there are methods to address and mitigate this issue. This involves removing the source of pollution and implementing measures to prevent future contamination, while also treating the contaminated water through natural and technological processes.

Characteristics and Values of Clearing Pollution from Water

Reduce plastic waste

Reducing plastic waste is essential to tackling water pollution, as plastic is one of the greatest threats to ocean health. With plastic production increasing, low recycling rates, and poor waste management, an estimated 4 to 12 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, threatening marine life and ecosystems.

Reduce Single-Use Plastic Consumption

A large proportion of plastic pollution comes from single-use items like plastic bags, bottles, and packaging. Refuse such items and opt for reusable alternatives instead. Carry a refillable water bottle, use reusable shopping bags, and choose products with minimal or eco-friendly packaging.

Recycle Plastic Waste

Currently, only 9% of plastic is recycled globally. Recycling helps keep plastic out of the ocean and reduces the demand for new plastic. Find a local recycling center and ensure you understand the types of plastic they accept.

Participate in Beach or Waterway Cleanups

Join or organize a cleanup of your local beach or waterway. This is a direct and rewarding way to remove plastic waste from the environment and prevent it from entering water sources. You can do this individually or with friends and family, or join a larger effort like the Global Ocean Cleanup or the International Coastal Cleanup.

Avoid Products with Microplastics and Microbeads

Microplastics and microbeads, tiny plastic particles found in some cosmetics, facial scrubs, and toothpastes, are a growing source of ocean plastic pollution. These particles slip through water treatment plants and are often mistaken for food by marine animals. Opt for products with natural exfoliants like oatmeal or salt, and be cautious when choosing cosmetics. Check ingredient lists for terms like "polyethylene" and "polypropylene" to avoid products containing microplastics.

Reduce Plastic Use in Daily Life

Small changes in daily habits can collectively make a significant impact. Some ideas include using a compost pile for vegetable scraps, running the dishwasher or washing machine only with full loads, and minimizing the use of pesticides and herbicides, as these chemicals can enter water sources and harm ecosystems.

Improve water efficiency

Improving water efficiency is a crucial step in clearing pollution from water. Water efficiency not only reduces water pollution but also conserves electricity and water. Here are some ways to improve water efficiency and reduce pollution:

Reduce Water Usage

One way to improve water efficiency is to reduce the amount of water used. This can be done by installing water-efficient toilets, which use less water per flush. Alternatively, placing a brick or a half-gallon container in the toilet tank can also reduce water usage per flush. Running the dishwasher or clothes washer only when they are fully loaded is another way to conserve water and electricity. Using a bucket of soapy water instead of a running hose to wash your car is also an effective way to reduce water usage.

Properly Dispose of Waste

Another important aspect of improving water efficiency and reducing pollution is the proper disposal of waste. Avoid pouring fat, oil, or grease down the sink. Keep a "fat jar" under the sink to collect fat and discard it in the solid waste when full. Do not dispose of household chemicals, cleaning agents, or medications down the sink or toilet. These can contaminate water sources and harm the environment. Instead, dispose of them properly during your local Hazardous Waste Collection events.

Minimize Use of Chemicals

Minimizing the use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers is essential to reducing water pollution. These chemicals can wash into waterways during rain, contaminating water sources. Additionally, when using detergents and soaps, opt for phosphate-free options, as phosphates can contribute to water pollution.

Watering Practices

Adopting efficient watering practices can also improve water efficiency. Watering during the evening or very early morning minimizes evaporation, ensuring that more water reaches the plants. Using porous pavement, such as gravel, for driveways and walkways allows rainwater to recharge groundwater supplies instead of running off and causing erosion.

Wastewater Treatment

Upgrading wastewater treatment facilities is crucial to improving water efficiency and reducing pollution. While it may be costly, new technologies like ozone gas and electrochemical membranes can effectively break down pollutants in water. Additionally, regulations and standards for waste emissions from commercial ships and industries can help minimize water pollution.

Use phosphate-free soaps

Phosphates are chemical compounds made from phosphorus, a naturally occurring element that is necessary for plant growth. They can be processed into synthetic forms for use in cleaning products. Phosphates are commonly found in detergents, dishwashing liquids, laundry detergents, and household cleaners. Phosphates help break down grease, grime, and mineral deposits, making cleaning easier, especially in areas with hard water. They also prevent soap scum from forming.

However, the use of phosphates in cleaning products has been a concern for decades due to their contribution to water pollution. Phosphates cause eutrophication, leading to the formation of harmful algal blooms. These blooms prevent light and oxygen from reaching the water, resulting in the death of organisms within the ecosystem. Additionally, algal blooms can have negative economic impacts on local communities, particularly those reliant on tourism and fishing industries.

To address this issue, there has been a growing movement to switch to phosphate-free detergents, soaps, and household cleaners. By 2010, multiple U.S. states banned the sale of dishwasher detergents containing high levels of phosphates. These bans aimed to reduce the amount of phosphate entering wastewater, which can eventually make its way into ponds, rivers, lakes, and streams.

When shopping for soaps and detergents, look for products labeled "phosphate-free." Certifications like "Made Safe" or "EWG Verified" can also help identify phosphate-free options. While early phosphate-free formulations received some criticism for their cleaning performance, newer options have improved significantly and can effectively clean without relying on phosphates.

Prevent air pollution

While there are many ways to prevent water pollution, not all of them will have a direct effect on preventing air pollution. However, here are some ways that can help prevent air pollution, specifically in relation to water treatment:

Firstly, it is important to understand the sources of water pollution. Point-source pollution refers to pollution from a single source, such as an industrial site, while nonpoint-source pollution comes from many small sources, such as rainfall carrying pollutants into rivers or lakes. By understanding these sources, we can implement measures to reduce pollution at its source.

One way to prevent air pollution from water treatment is to properly manage and treat wastewater. Wastewater treatment facilities use biological, physical, and chemical processes to remove pollutants from sewage before it is reintroduced into waterways. This helps prevent the release of toxic chemicals and gases into the air, reducing air pollution.

Additionally, the use of septic tanks can be effective in treating sewage and reducing pollution. Septic tanks separate liquids from solids and use biological processes to degrade solid substances before the treated liquids flow into drainage systems. This process helps reduce the amount of pollution that ends up in water bodies, minimizing the potential for air pollution.

Another way to prevent air pollution is to promote green agriculture practices. Agriculture is a major contributor to water pollution, with pesticides and fertilizers washing away into waterways during rainfall. By planting trees and other plants near bodies of water, farmers can help prevent chemicals from being washed away. Additionally, adopting denitrification processes can convert nitrates directly into nitrogen gas, preventing groundwater contamination and reducing the need for energy-intensive processes that may contribute to air pollution.

Proper disposal of household chemicals and waste is also crucial. Avoid pouring fats, oils, grease, or household chemicals down the sink or toilet. Instead, collect them in designated containers and dispose of them properly during hazardous waste collection days. This helps prevent the release of toxic chemicals into the air during water treatment processes.

Lastly, water conservation plays a vital role in preventing air pollution. By conserving water, we can reduce the energy required for treating and pumping water, which contributes to air pollution. This can be achieved through simple actions such as using water-efficient toilets, running dishwashers and washing machines only when full, and minimizing the use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.

Use eco-friendly fertilisers

Water pollution is a pressing issue, and it can be very difficult to reverse the effects of polluted water. Natural processes that cleanse the water can take years, decades, or even centuries, and even with costly technological processes, it can take a long time to remove all the harmful substances.

One way to tackle this issue is by using eco-friendly fertilisers. Fertilisers are a common source of water pollution, as they can contaminate water bodies through runoff or leaching into the soil. By using eco-friendly fertilisers, you can help reduce this type of pollution and protect water sources.

Eco-friendly fertilisers, also known as environmentally friendly fertilisers (EFFs) or enhanced efficiency fertilisers (EEFs), offer a way to improve nutrient efficiency and minimise nutrient losses. They do this by controlling the release of nutrients into the soil, ensuring that they are only available to plants when needed. This slow release of nutrients over time, targeted to when a crop is actively growing, means less fertiliser is needed overall. This is in contrast to synthetic fertilisers, which provide rapid nutrient release and can lead to chemicals leeching into waterways, causing water pollution.

EFFs are formulated with environmentally friendly materials that can be degraded in the soil and converted into harmless substances like carbon dioxide, water, methane, inorganic compounds, or microbial biomass. These natural materials offer advantages over synthetic polymers due to their low cost, easy availability, and biodegradability. EFF coatings can also prevent urea exposure in water and soil, reducing nitrogen oxide and dinitrogen emissions, and improving water retention in the soil.

By choosing eco-friendly fertilisers, you can help reduce water pollution, improve soil quality, and promote a healthier environment. This, in turn, can lead to better conditions for farmers and crops, increased produce, and lower costs for consumers.

Frequently asked questions