Norwex Movement

New Technologies to Clean Up Water

In honor of both Water Quality Month (August) and World Water Week (hosted by the Stockholm International Water Institute each last week of August), I’d like to gently encourage us all to “keep it clean, people”—our water, that is.

Perhaps our planet’s greatest natural resource, the water we often take for granted is both precious and, for billions, scarce—which is why we need to do everything we can to protect it.

So I was happy to read about two new initiatives designed to help clean water in a couple of different ways.

The Ocean Cleanup Project

Some of you may recall the Ocean Cleanup Project’s ocean-cleaning drift system, that’s removing trash and debris from our oceans. Now, the same group has developed a solar-powered barge, called the Interceptor,™ designed to combat river plastic emissions by capturing trash before it ever has a chance to reach the ocean.

Check it out!

Carbon Fibre Aerogel

Industrial and chemical waste is also polluting our water. Fortunately, Singaporean startup EcoWorth Tech has developed the Carbon Fibre Aerogel (CFA), a new kind of filter designed to remove this type of pollution from wastewater. The CFA is a reusable super-sponge that removes organic materials from wastewater, turning it into water than can be reused or safely released into the environment. Able to absorb up to 190 times its own weight in contaminants, the CFA could be put to work in the oil and gas industry, food production and processing, as well as industrial and chemical processing. Best of all, the captured organic materials can be removed and reused too.

What Can I Do?

With exciting new technologies like these, it might be tempting to simply let the experts make sure that we all have safe water to drink and enjoy. But Movement members know better than that. We know that it really takes all of us doing our part to ensure healthy water supplies for future generations. So here are some easy ways we can help conserve and preserve our precious water:

1 Properly dispose of any household chemicals, oils and non-biodegradable items to prevent them from going down the drain. (Better yet, forego cleaning with harmful chemicals altogether!)
2 Maintain your car so it doesn’t leak oil, antifreeze or coolant.
3 If you have a yard, consider landscaping that reduces runoff and avoid applying pesticides and herbicides in your organic garden.
4 If you have a pup, be sure to pick up its poop.
5 Add an automatic shut-off nozzle to your garden hose to save five gallons of water a minute.
6 Fix leaks around the house.
7 Take shorter showers or fill the bathtub only halfway.
8 Turn off the water when brushing your teeth or shaving.
9 Wash full loads of clothes or dishes.

What other ways do you save water around the house? Our readers would love to hear about them! Please share your tips in the Comments below.

At our current worldwide consumption rate, by 2025 two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages.
Just 1,000 rivers are responsible for up to 80% of the pollution in our oceans.
The agriculture industry consumes more water than any other. It’s also the biggest source of water contamination.
One-third of residential water use in North America goes toward watering our lawns and gardens.
Harmful contaminants like arsenic, copper and lead have been found in the tap water of every single state in the U.S.

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