How is your Gut linked to what you put in your Gutter?
Priti, a stickler for cleanliness, won't rest until every corner of her home gleams with spotless perfection—even if it means tackling a grimy spot in the dead of night. Her home boasts a special pantry stocked with bulk packs of her beloved cleaning supplies, a testament to her unwavering dedication.
The Scenario
Unfortunately, many people view sewage drains as distant from our water sources, picturing them as the epitome of "filth" cut off from the clean reservoirs we imagine. However, the reality is far from this perception. Merely 28% of sewage undergoes treatment before reaching water bodies, with the majority of this treated portion originating from industries adhering to regulations. Consequently, we can assume that much of the cleaning products we discard ultimately find their way into the water we drink.
Domestic water supplies are often sourced directly from water bodies, undergoing some treatment before reaching our homes. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA) recently in its report stated"Progressively over the past, the wastewater (partially treated or untreated) has been discharged into the water bodies (traditional water sources). As the wastewater effluent and the pesticides leached from the agricultural fields discharged into the water bodies contain various contaminants including micro-pollutants, Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals etc., it is important to adopt high degree of treatment to protect the public health from the water related life threatening diseases. Conventionally, when organic content of source water is high, the pre-chlorination process in use may form Disinfection By-Products (DBPs) including Trihalomethanes (THMs), which are suspected carcinogenic. Therefore, the conventional water treatment processes are ineffective to treat such variety of contaminants. The BOD is an indicator of contamination of the raw water source as most of the river stretches in India have high BOD as stated above. "
However, a deeper dive into reports from MOHUA reveals that conventional water treatment processes—relying on activated charcoal, chlorination, and domestic RO systems—are insufficient. Most concerning is the revelation that volatile organic compounds (VOCs), surfactants, and other carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting chemicals permeate RO membranes, entering our bodies.
As responsible citizens, we must confront the blurred boundaries between what we ingest and what we discard. Each flush or drain reminds us that waste doesn't vanish—it remains on our planet. Misconceptions about water treatment fuel the unbridled use of chemicals, exacerbating environmental concerns.
How are we responsible?
At the domestic level, our actions play a significant role in water pollution, yet often go unnoticed. The blurred boundaries between what we ingest and what we discard need urgent resolution. Every time we flush a toilet or drain a sink, we must recognize that our waste doesn't vanish into thin air—it remains here on our planet, affecting our environment and ultimately our own well-being.
A prevalent misconception persists that water treatment facilities have the magical ability to completely purify water, absolving us of responsibility for the chemicals we introduce into the system. This misconception has led to the unchecked and excessive use of chemical cleaning products in our homes. From harsh detergents to potent disinfectants, these chemicals find their way into our sewage systems with every flush and drain.
The reality is that traditional water treatment methods, such as chlorination and activated charcoal filtration, are not foolproof. They may remove some contaminants, but many harmful substances, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, persist and can even make their way back into our drinking water.
As individuals, it's crucial to recognize our role in this cycle of pollution and take proactive steps to minimize our impact.
Blessing in Disguise: Bioenzymes
Nature knows how to restore balance. As evolution crafted intricate life forms on our planet, it also provided solutions to simplify and recycle complex substances. Enzymes, secreted by living organisms including tiny bacteria, play a key role in this process. They break down complex molecules into smaller, more manageable components, much like our digestive system functions. These smaller substances are then absorbed by bacteria, which further break them down into simple products such as water and CO2.
At Forest Lab, we harness this natural process by brewing a concoction of bioenzymes over several months. This results in a perfect natural cleaning experience that not only revitalizes your home but also contributes to the purification of our water bodies when flushed away.