Changes in YOUR Lives that could save many others

Industries only produce what they do because their product is in high demand. For example, the textile, dye and fashion industry release chemicals like ammonia into rivers and other water bodies. As mentioned in the section on Sewage, many Sewage Treatment Plants do not operate at maximum capacity or may simply let water flow through them without treatment. Given these problems, it is inevitable that contaminants would enter domestic supply at a certain point. Ammonia, for example, is a chemical that was detected in high concentrations in the Yamuna in July 2020. This is a chemical that treatment systems are not capable of treating. The government reciprocated by curbing production by 25% till the issue could be resolved. NOTE THAT their response wasn't a novel treatment measure, but rather influencing the source. This high level of production is very likely due to high demand.

• What should you do?

Choose what to and not to buy very carefully. Before you decide on clothing, for example, you could ask important questions like what the production of the good entails. This website lists several impacts of "Fast Fashion": an industry aptly assigned the sobriquet after its supremely efficacious production.

a. Water Contamination: Dye is fabled to be , and we daresay may well be, the second-most polluting waste substance after agriculture chemicals(fertilisers and pesticides, to name a few).

b. Contribution to Landfills: Millions around the world have a penchant for frequently purchasing and discarding garments. These garments are significant additions to landfills, and may release the dye they retain as part of the chemical run-off which percolates into the ground when it rains.

Your Buying Choices are one matter, but what is done by what you buy is another. Domestic Chemicals like Hand wash, Body Wash, Shampoo, Detergent and many others are often disposed of nonchalantly down our drains. Soap goes down the sink, body wash and shampoo down the drain that all bathing areas have, and other chemicals down the kitchen sink. Many of these chemicals are not treatable by common systems. We assure you, this is far from conjecture. This article is an example of when a disastrous sight over the Yamuna was caused by household wastewater. While it is understandable that all of these products are essential, there are indeed alternative options that are far more eco-friendly. It is very dangerous to assume that whatever goes down the drain is sieved out by hook or crook, because research has shown that it isn't!

• What should you do?

Protecting our water entails some large changes, both at the domestic and national level. Given that only the former is under your practicable purview, it is advisable to consider some borderline-major lifestyle changes, and you wouldn't be the first to do so! Have a look at the Instagram account @wormrani. She is a charismatic woman who has synthesised organic mixtures.

Consider Cleaning your shower drains every now and then. That titchy little strand of hair has the potential to be more dangerous than you give it credit for! We must consider all contingencies associated to bodily runoff: someone with a lice-stricken head can jeopardise that next glass of water you have,

Save Water!

• When brushing your teeth, washing your face, etc., close the tap when it is not in use.

• Use buckets instead of showers

• Check for leakages in the house

• Harvest water

• Help the poor in your community by providing them with water since they pay a lot more and you have abundant supply round the clock

Detergent Choice:

According to this report(page 11), detergent choices should budget for:

• Detergent phosphate content. These cause algal blooms within water bodies, reducing oxygen content and killing aquatic denizens(as happened in Agra according to this article).

• Avoid Detergents with high Chlorine/Ammonia Content: they can cause respiratory issues