I was wondering what happens when we?
Do they somehow end up back in our drinking water and that's why it's so nasty?I know sewage is sent out into the ocean and if these harsh chemicals are in it then could they end up back in our water supply when it rains?
Please excuse me if I sound ignorant I just really would like to know.
What happens to all this stuff once we've gotten rid of it?
Where does it go?
Answer:
Hi Adelaide,
a good question...obviously the more chemicals you put into the drainage system the more likely it is that there will be contamination of the water supply.
However, although I don't know where you live, most modern countries have a system of handling waste that limits this contamination by design, so I wouldn't worry TOO much.
When your waste water goes down the drain it, along with all the sewage, etc. from your toilet is treated by filtering and in some cases chemically, before the remainder is released back into the water system.
This is usually fairly effecient. There are, though, some factors that make the water more likely to contamination...fertilisation of agricutural land with chemical fertilisers causes a great deal of chemical 'run off' which goes directly into the river system and the reservoir system that makes up the water supply of modern industrialisd nations.
As you point out, sewage is often released into the sea. In the UK there are strictly enforced limits as to how much sewage can be sent out to sea and it should be treated before release...that is not the case in many other countries (including, I'm afraid, the USA-a huge pollution blackspot) This sewage does not naturally return to the water system as, when seawater evaporates, fuelling the clouds that bring fresh rainfall back to earth, what is contained in the sea stays there. Only fresh water is evaporated ending up as clouds. The contamination, though, stays in the sea and annually the quality of sea water is reduced.
This may presently be noticed only in shallow, water areas near to the shore, where monitoring is carried out, but annually the amount of sewage and other contaminants is building up.
Eventually, without control, the sea will become a 'dead' water area. Fish will suffer (and already do in heavily contaminated areas) none of this is good news for the planet.
Obviously the harsh chemicals you use to clean your toilet will also end up in the sea if your country or local government allows untreated sewage to be released into the sea. It also causes the effectiveness of the filtration system, even where the sewage IS treated, to be lessened. Again, those chemicals released into the sea won't affect your water supply directly, but they will, and do, affect the quality of seawater. The chemicals released on land may find their way into the water system, especially where water is taken from the ground by artesian well pumping systems.
Ignorance of the facts is nothing to be ashamed of...not wanting to know is. Thank you for wanting to know and for showing your concern.
Although I'm not a member of Greenpeace or any other environmental group, I know they are seeking people to support and help them maintain some kind of control over what is happening to our planet...if you care, perhaps you could contact one of these groups and offer your help?
Just a thought,
BobSpain
Some of them stay in the sewer until the sewer can't hold anymore. Thats all I know.
Many of the chemicals'll get dissolved and will lose their properties as days goes on... So those dangerous and harmful chemicals wont be harmful anymore... But if the still retains its harmful nature, then v'll be into trouble. So better use some water purifiers or something...
Good question, I don't have an answer. But think of this.
Humans need water to survive, Humans polute water, Water ends up killing humans.what are we to do?
most communities have MUD or municipal utility districts where I am, I don't know if its the same in other places but they are responsible for treating all water that is moved into the sewer system through normal business and household drains. it's their responsibility to make sure that it's made safe again and are required to give quarterly reports and have quarterly inspections.
the storm sewers are a different story. all of our storm sewers dump into our drainage ditches and bayous where they move on to larger bodies of water. that's why its important to never dispose of anything in a storm sewer. I manage and auto body and repair and we have to dispose of our mop water and non-hazardous wastes through our sink drains and we can be subject to some very large fines if we dump anything in the storm sewer or on the ground.
out in the country where you have septic tanks and wells, that seems a little scary to me. I don't think I would drink the water.
well that's all I know about it.
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