Domestic wastewater research
Although industrial processes account for a considerable share of overall pollution in the UK, levels of pollutants emitted into the urban wastewater system from industry have been reduced considerably. Major impacts on wastewater treatment systems occur however due to domestic wastewater discharges. Consumer behaviour and product usage affects the scale of pollutants going into the domestic wastewater system (i.e. what goes into your foul water system from your sinks, baths, showers, and toilets). The disposal of fats, oils and grease down sinks and drains, and the incorrect disposal of items such as cotton buds and nappies down the toilet are significant causes of sewer blockages and flooding. In addition, there are thousands of chemicals in domestic wastewater resulting from the use of cleaning, pharmaceutical, and hygiene products that cannot be removed or treated in wastewater treatment systems.
A change in purchasing and consumption behaviour by households towards practices that are kinder to the environment would significantly reduce the pollutant load of domestic wastewater and sewer blockages, and therefore reduce damage to the environment and risk to the UK’s valued water resources.
In summer 2007 Ealing Council, Ealing's LA21 Chairs Group, Cranfield University, and Ecover supported an MSc thesis research project examining peoples' attitudes and behaviours towards wastewater in their homes.
The purpose of the research was to explore ways in which this issue may be addressed with an overall aim to evaluate the potential for behavioural change in the use and disposal of domestic cleaning and other products into the wastewater system. The main objectives of this research were:
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to ascertain householders’ perceptions of cleaning and other products and their associated environmental impacts
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to determine whether these perceptions contribute to purchasing behaviour and behaviour within the household and
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to establish whether households may be encouraged to reduce the pollution of domestic wastewater systems
The outcomes of the research indicate that consumer awareness is key to modifying the behaviour of households towards more environmentally kinder actions. However, awareness alone does not lead to behaviour change. The availability and price of green alternatives, infrastructure, habit and routine, among others, are factors that influence the potential for behavioural change.
The findings of the project are presented in two documents:
Executive summary (word)
A case study of the borough of Ealing (pdf)