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Environmental effects of laundry wastewater

When you wash your clothes, the water that goes down the drain, called laundry wastewater, can have an impact on the environment.

This water can contain things that are not good for the environment, like chemicals from laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and bleach. These chemicals can be harmful to plants and animals if they end up in rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Laundry wastewater can also carry tiny particles of dirt, lint, and other materials that can clog up waterways and harm aquatic life.

If the laundry wastewater is not treated properly before being released into the environment, it can harm the natural balance of ecosystems by disrupting the growth of plants and the food chain of animals.

To help lessen the environmental impact of laundry wastewater, it's important to use eco-friendly laundry detergents and fabric softeners. Additionally, a laundry system with a greywater treatment component can recycle and reuse the wastewater in landscaping and irrigation systems. Lastly, avoid overloading washing machines, as this leads to more water being used than necessary.