Columnists

Talking to some people from the City of Toronto water department last weekend, I was impressed to hear them advocate for natural and certified cleaning products and personal care products. Because, of course, they head down the drain and into the waste system, go through some filtering and treatment, but many still head out into Lake Ontario.

According to this Environment Canada report on the preponderance of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in Alberta rivers, “In general, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and synthetic fragrances (musks) are detected most frequently and at the highest concentrations… Future efforts for AENV will include a focus on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (flame retardants) and perfluorinated compounds (surfactants) in major rivers, riverine sediments, and aquatic biota of the province.”

Studies can take time, but we all depend on our water supply. As I’ve heard many times lately, we all live downstream from someone.

What can we do? Well, the folks from Toronto’s water department suggest using benign cleaning agents such as baking soda and products that are EcoLogo certified. (I’ve tested many of these, and I haven’t come across a certified product that doesn’t perform well.) But it’s not just cleaning products that go down the drain: don’t forget about dish and dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent, shampoo, body washes… and all the products you’re washing away, like fragrances and makeup.

Because what goes down comes around.

Have you made a green cleaner, or tried one, that really works for you?

Gazing up at the maze of plumbing between our floor joists, a plumber we invited in to consult on our water system recommended that when replacing copper and galvanized steel pipes, we should use PEX, the flexible plastic tubing now common in plumbing installations. He noted that it was more affordable because it was so much faster and easier for him to install. But then he volunteered that he wouldn’t have it in his home, since his wife was pregnant.

We’ve learned a lot about creating a safe water supply, and I think we shouldn’t be too quick to forget the lessons that lead pipes have taught us. Why go from a bad known to a convenient unknown? The plastic PEX and PVC pipes might be safe, but we’ve learned a lot about small amounts of material leaching from plastic when it’s heated — and our hot-water heaters send hot water to our taps at a fairly hot temperature. Copper pipes have been in use for about 50 years, and though they’re a little harder to install, they are very durable and safe, from a health point of view. I’ve read that a lot of copper tubing and fittings are made with recycled copper. Since it’s a valuable material, it’s worth reclaiming.

My partner tackled a plumbing project last weekend — I was the wrecking crew, pulling away old ceiling material and insulation so that he could easily access the plumbing at hand. (Do not underestimate the value of a shop vacuum as a “green cleaning” tool for sucking up material you don’t want to touch!) Shown above is the nasty, dripping steel pipe we replaced; in its place is a neat network of copper pipes, complete with a couple of shut-off valves so we can easily stop the flow of water to various parts of the house. Sure, plastic might have taken less time, but hey, we’re worth the extra trouble.

Are you tackling any DIY projects around your home? Are you trying to pick healthy / green choices?