We can sometimes be extremely careless with how we treat water. This is astonishing because it is the most valuable resource on the planet. For all of us living in developed countries, it sometimes feels like there is a seemingly abundant supply of water. In truth, the Earth has a very small and limited supply of fresh water, and we must do everything in our power to protect it. A big step in making a difference is understanding what happens to the water we use, after we use it.

When water is flushed down a toilet or travels down a drain, it is taken to a sewage treatment plant where dirt, oil, food wastes, and the like are removed. No matter how hard the sewage treatment plant works, there are certain harmful chemicals that just cannot be removed from the water. Examples of such chemicals include phosphates from detergents. Since the chemicals cannot be removed, the water continues down the cycle, and ends up in our lakes and rivers. It is important to be aware of what we are flushing down our toilets and drains, because there are some serious adverse effects to our actions.

Endocrine disruptors have been found in certain lakes and rivers. These chemicals alter hormones in our body and cause them to act abnormally which naturally creates adverse effects. Furthermore, animals that live in the water are being affected by our actions. Countless reports show fish, frogs, and other aquatic life are suffering from genetic mutations.

In the future, if we do not take care of our planet and our lakes and rivers, the effects could be disastrous. A big potential problem is scarcity of clean and safe water; this is magnified when you consider the 6 billion people that rely on this resource. Furthermore, if we do not take action, any available water may become highly contaminated and dangerous to our health and the health of any future generations.

A quick and easy way you can make a difference is to be aware of what you’re flushing down your drain. Avoid products that contain chemicals that are harmful to our waterways and aquatic life. Some of these chemicals include phosphates, EDTA, parabens, phthalates and chlorine.

Also try to use products that are septic and grey water safe.

Keep these facts in mind the next time you’re cleaning or using products that contain chemicals. Do your part in keeping our Earth a safe and healthy place to live for our generation, and generations to come.