What's Going Down?

What's Going Down?

Take a walk through our interactive house and learn what might be going down your drains, and how some household items might not be as water friendly as they seem...

Start

And keep a look out for extra water and energy saving measures you can take as you go around the house. HINT: The first one is on this page - have a click around...)

enter

Go to kitchen

Go to garden

Go to kitchen

Go to garden

GO TO HOUSE

Go to laundry

Back to garden

laundry

BACK TO Kitchen

laundry

BACK TO Kitchen

GO TO bathroom

Bathroom

BACK TO LAUNDRY

GO TO BEDROOM

BACK TO LAUNDRY

BEDROOM

Back to bathroom

👀what Did you find...?

want to Keep learning?

Back to bathroom

BACK TO START

Organic fertiliser & Gardening

Apply with caution...

There are potential risks to water supply when using "organic" garden fertilisers in the UK; though they tend to be lower than with synthetic fertilisers, there are still potential risks to water quality, primarily through nutrient runoff.

Look out for

Consumers should be aware of the vague claims often used in the marketing of organic garden fertilisers, including "biodegradable", "sustainable", or "environmentally safe", which can be misleading.

For example, excessive use of organic fertilisers can contribute to environmental issues that harm water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, products marketed as "sustainable" may overlook the environmental impact of raw material sourcing, manufacturing or transportation. Consumers should apply fertiliser cautiously and responsibly, and adhere to guidelines to ensure truly sustainable gardening practices.

Hand Washing vs. Dishwasher

Busting some myths...

It may surprise you to know that dishwashers use less water than handwashing!

What to look out for

Modern models, with auto and eco programs, consume only 14 litres per cycle, while handwashing can use up to 150 litres, making dishwashers far more water efficient. In addition, they save energy (particularly when using the eco-setting), free up your time and provide a more hygienic clean.

Cleaning with a JeT Washer

Do you really need to?

Jet washing uses a significant amount of water, and the use of harsh cleaning agents increase runoff toxicity, spreading pollutants to surrounding areas. These contaminants can harm aquatic ecosystems and wildlife.

What you can do

Instead, think about whether you really need to jet wash - why not stick with soil and vegetation, rather than a patio that needs to be cleaned? As well as supporting biodiversity and looking good (and so supporting your mental health) vegetation can allow rainwater to be absorbed into the soil, reducing surface runoff, so preventing flooding and erosion.

COFFEE GROUNDS

Think before you rinse!

It's easy to forget to dispose of coffee grounds safely, especially after making that first coffee of the day! But the grounds clump together in water and cause blockages in pipes and sewers, especially when fats, oils and grease make them stick to other objects.

What you can do

Adding coffee grounds to your garden boosts soil nitrogen, raises temperature, discourages weeds and repels some pests.

They’re also beneficial for earthworms. Additionally, gritty grounds can scrub dirty dishes and sinks, and massaging them into your scalp stimulates hair follicles.

Great job!

Turning off taps...

How much water is wasted from a dripping tap depends on the speed of a drip. But one drip is estimated to contain around one third of a millilitre (ml). Multiply that up over a day and, if the drip is one per second, water loss is over 28 litres! That is a lot of wasted clean water. Remember that water leaks can be hidden and a pipe leaking behind a wall can cause a great deal of damage. If you can hear dripping from your toilet cistern, then you are likely to have a leak within it - and, as well as potential damage, it can be a huge waste of water and impact your water bills.

Waste Disposal units

Not so straightforward...

A waste-disposal unit, or food waste disposer, is an electric grinder installed under the kitchen sink to pulverise food scraps into sludge that is flushed away with running water.

Things to consider

The environmental impact of these units is debated. They are opposed due to concerns about increased sewer blockages, particularly from fats, oils, and grease, which can cause fatbergs.

The food waste increases the biological load at wastewater treatment plants, requiring more energy to process. Plus, households using waste disposers use more water. Countering these concerns, it can be argued that if your local treatment plant produces fertilizers and biomethane (an alternative to natural gas) from sewage sludge food waste could potentially enhance the production.

SHOWER GEL & SOAPS

Do you prefer shower gel or bar soap?

Shower gels often contain water as the main ingredient, making them heavier to transport and less eco-friendly than soap. They also come in plastic packaging, as opposed to soap bars which are often packaged partially or wholly in cardboard. Soap is made by reacting plant or animal oils with sodium hydroxide, an efficient process with minimal waste. However, many soaps use unsustainable palm oil, so check labels carefully. Shower gels often include synthetic ingredients and chemicals, but some claim to require less water for rinsing.

What you can do

It really is a case of doing your research and using a product that meets your environmental preferences. Remember that products that use marketing terms including “eco-friendly”, “chemical-or free", or “natural” could be greenwashing, as some substances in the products may not be so "natural".

FABRIC SOFTENER

Are there better alternatives?

Fabric softeners are marketed as offering benefits, including making clothes feel softer and smelling fresh, due to being chemically scented, but they come with drawbacks. Over time, fabric softeners buildup on clothes, reducing towels absorbency, and reduce the effectiveness of the detergent and washing machine. Despite greenwashing claims of "eco-friendly", "natural", or "biodegradable", many fabric softeners contain chemicals that may cause skin irritation, asthma, and other health issues. Most are not biodegradable, contributing to environmental harm.

Look out for

There are several sustainable natural alternatives providing more environmentally friendly options. Some washing detergents already include softeners, so you don’t need fabric softeners. Drying outside, when possible, reduces the need for fabric softeners. Using a wool dryer ball, or tennis balls in your tumble dryer offers a similar although noisier (!) function. You could also add baking soda or a mixture of vinegar and essential oils as a fabric softener to your wash.

How many bonus tips did you find?

There were four bonus tips to find - if you missed any, you can click back through the house and look for anything that's dripping, been left on, or running inefficiently.

Show All⤵️

WET WIPES & COTTON WOOL

Do not flush, and look for alternatives...

These products may look innocent but, when flushed down the toilet, wet wipes and cotton wool items do not break down. In fact, they can build up and trap other waste, forming a blockage in the system. When thinking about what to flush follow the 3Ps rule: pee, poo and (toilet) paper; these are the only things that should be flushed.

Look out for

Greenwashing is common in the marketing of wet wipes and cottonwool. Labels like “flushable” or “biodegradable” can be misleading, as many “flushable” wipes fail to break down in sewer systems. Similarly, products marketed as “biodegradable” may technically break down over time under specific conditions, such as

exposure to oxygen, light and microbes, but not in the sewer systems, where they can still cause clogs. Consumers should dispose of these products in the general waste, or ideally not use at all!

Drinking water & ICE

Get it from the tap...

Whilst bottled water is often said to taste better than tap water, in taste tests most people can’t tell the difference! Tap water is, for those of us in the UK, generally very low cost, safe and conveniently available.

Bottled water has a significant environmental impact in terms of energy use in treating, packaging and transportation, plus the hidden water used in creating the bottle.

What you can do

If you like your drink cooler, making your own ice at home, using tap water and an ice tray, eliminates transportation emissions and packaging waste versus buying bagged ice from the supermarket.

Cooking fatS and OILS

Dispose of fats responsibly!

Pouring cooking fats, oils and leftover food down the sink can solidify in pipes, causing blockages. This increases the risk of flooding and pollution of the local environment, watercourses, beaches and the sea.

What you can do

To dispose of grease properly, let it cool and solidify, then scrape it into your rubbish bin. Wipe away any remaining grease using paper towels before washing (or loading into the dishwasher).

Pet Waste & litter

Flushable Cat Litter? Fur-get it!

Marketing claims like “flushable” or “eco-friendly” can be misleading. Flushing biodegradable litter introduces harmful pathogens into waterways and violates UK plumbing and environmental guidelines. Composting requires careful handling, which is often overlooked in advertising. Proper disposal protects plumbing, the environment and public health. Flushing cat litter can damage plumbing and harm the environment.

Clay-based litters expand in water, blocking pipes, while cat faeces may carry parasites like Toxocariasis, which water treatment cannot remove. This poses risks to public health, including serious conditions like breathing difficulties or vision loss.

What you can do

Dispose of clay-based litter in the general waste bin, as it’s non-biodegradable. Avoid flushing Biodegradable litter, even if labelled “flushable”; compost it in a dedicated area following proper guidelines.

laundry & washing MAchines

Laundry releases microfibers into wastewater

Microfibers, tiny plastic fragments, are the most common microplastics in the environment. They come from various sources, with synthetic fabrics being the largest contributor. Advanced treatment plants remove up to 99%, but much remains in treated water. These fibres accumulate in sewage sludge, which is applied to soil as a fertilizer, allowing microplastics to enter ecosystems and food webs.

What you can do

To reduce microfiber release, wash full loads less often, use cold water and less detergent. Choose a front-loading machine, which releases fewer fibres, and air-dry clothes instead of using a dryer, which releases microplastics into the air.

ROBOT cleaners & MOPS

It's a bit of a trade off...

Household robot cleaners can automate mopping, making them convenient for busy households. Unlike traditional mopping, robotic mops use significantly less water, as they are designed to dampen small areas rather than soak them. This makes them a water-efficient option for maintaining clean floors.

What to look out for

While water-saving, robot mops rely on electricity to operate. Consider the energy source used to charge them and their environmental impact over time, as well as

checking out if your device has any energy or water saving settings. Additionally, be mindful of the cleaning solutions used to avoid contributing to harmful wastewater.

Showing & Bathing

Which is better? Well, it depends...

There is an ongoing debate about water savings when comparing baths to showers. There isn’t necessarily a straightforward answer, in that it depends on how you bath or shower!

What you can do

A general argument has been that showers tend to use less water than baths, and this is likely to be true when they are kept short and use a water-saving showerhead.

However, if you take long showers, you'll end up using more water, which may be more than a half-filled bath with shared bathwater. Remember that taking fewer baths or showers saves considerably on water use, as well as saving on the energy to heat the water.

VIRTUAL water in fashion

There's water here too...

"Hidden" or "virtual" water is the water that you don't see that has been used in the making of products. Water is used in many steps of production processes for many things, in fact around 10,000 litres are used to make a pair of jeans or your bedsheets.

What to look out for

To limit the hidden water use in relation to fashion, make use of the ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ idea.

Do you need another pair of jeans? Could you buy second hand clothes? Could you recycle a product you no longer need? Thinking and acting in this way will help reduce the virtual water used in making new products.

Household paint & Decorating

Never dispose of leftover paint down the drain!

Pouring paint down the drain can cause significant environmental damage, block plumbing and contaminate water supplies. Remove as much paint from your brushes before washing them in the sink and take leftover paint to a local recycling or disposal facility.

Look out for

Be wary of terms like "low VOC" (volatile organic compounds). This can suggest a paint is environmentally friendly but, unless they specify the exact VOC content and comply with recognised standards, these claims can be superficial. Even low-VOC paints may still contain harmful chemicals in other components like pigments or additives.

Nice one!

Filter on the drainpipe

By filtering out debris at the source (before they enter the drainage system), you reduce the burden on wastewater treatment facilities. This can lead to more effective treatment of water and less environmental contamination. A filter can also prevent leaves, sticks and other large items from entering your drainage system, helping to avoid blockages.

Good spot!

Maintaining Radiators

Bleeding radiators and maintaining your heating system ensures it runs efficiently, reduces energy costs, and prolongs its lifespan while keeping your home comfortably warm.

BEDROOM

DISPOSABLE period products

Not Flushable. Ever.

It may not come as a surprise that disposable period products harm the environment. Water is used in their production and flushing can cause problems, including blocked pipes and sanitary products being found on beaches. Please don’t flush – ever!

What you can do

For those who can, switching to reusable alternatives can help reduce this impact. But cultural attitudes also play a role in product choice. Disposable products are expensive, while reusable products, such as menstrual cups, are cheaper in the long run.

Cosmetics PRODUCTS

Do we really need so many?

The skincare industry is booming! But making cosmetics significantly impacts water use and pollution. Water is a key ingredient in many products but, more significant, is the water used in production. Additionally, water is consumed indirectly through the production of raw materials, ingredient extraction, and manufacturing processes, contributing to the product's "virtual water" footprint.

"Virtual Water"?

"Virtual water", or "indirect water," is the water used in the production of goods, even though it's not directly seen or used by the consumer. It's the water consumed at every step of the supply chain to create a product. This includes water used in manufacturing, packaging and transportation.

Great job!

Turning off lights...

While not a water-saving measure, turning off lights you're not using can save energy and keep electricity bills down.

Keen to Learn More?

Visit School of Business

Visit School of Social Sciences and Global Studies

Share this Interactive ⤵️

Weed Killers and Insecticides

Use with extreme care!

These products can impact the water supply by contributing to chemical runoff and groundwater pollution. If they wash into stormwater drains, they can eventually contaminate rivers, lakes and groundwater.

This pollution can harm aquatic ecosystems and pose risks to human health if these contaminants enter drinking water sources.

Look out for

Poisonous substances have to be listed on the bottle by way of warning labels but it’s important to look for credible certifications, understand the full ingredient list and evaluate the environmental impact of the entire product lifecycle.