Water & Pollution
"Pollution from toxic chemicals threatens life on this planet. Every ocean and every continent, from the tropics to the once-pristine polar regions, is contaminated."
According to the environmental campaign organization WWF
We know that water pollution is only caused by humans, since it is just a recent development in the planet's history: before the 19th century Industrial Revolution, people lived more in harmony with their immediate environment. As industrialization has spread around the globe, so has the problem of pollution with it. It was once popularly believed that the oceans were far too big to pollute. Today, with around 7 billion people on the planet, it has become apparent that this is far from the truth. Pollution is one of the signs that humans have exceeded the limits.
What is water pollution?
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies such as a lake, river, stream or marine environment. Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into a waterway without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds.
The solid and liquid waste people drop on the ground or dump in drains eventually ends up in a water environment somewhere. Rain washes pollutants and waste from our streets into drains which ultimately pollutes the rest of the water .
Pollution means that there can be foreign organic, inorganic, biological, radiological or physical substances in the water. These substances contaminate water by degrading its quality which may cause health hazard or decrease the utility of water.
What are the main types of pollution?
There are two principle sources of water, surface water and groundwater. Surface water comes from streams, lakes, rivers, shallow wells and reservoirs created by damming. Most surface water contains suspended solids, organic and inorganic substances, microbes and other biota. If these substances are present in water in optimum level, they do not cause pollution. The most obvious type of water pollution affects surface waters. For example, a spill from an oil tanker creates an oil slick that can affect a vast area of the ocean.
Not all of Earth's water sits on its surface, however. A great deal of water is held in underground rock structures known as aquifers, which we cannot see and seldom think about. Water stored underground in aquifers is known as groundwater. Aquifers feed our rivers and supply much of our drinking water. They too can become polluted, for example, when weed killers used in people's gardens drain into the ground. Groundwater pollution is much less obvious than surface-water pollution, but is no less of a problem. In 1996, a study in Iowa in the United States found that over half the state's groundwater wells were contaminated with weed killers.]
A journey along the Yamuna river, which is tretching 855 miles (1,375km) across the north of the country, at its source in the Himalayas its water is crystal clear. However, once it streams through New Delhi, it turns into one of the filthiest rivers in the world. Rapid urbanisation is partly to blame, but so is lax enforcement of laws against illegal dumping
Main causes of water pollution;
Sewage
A main source of pollution is raw or partially treated sewage discharged into rivers, lakes and streams.
The water used for domestic, industrial and other purposes gets converted into waste water. It is termed as sewage water. In ideal conditions, sewage water is channelled or piped out of cities so that it can be recycled. Sewage contains organic wastes as well as chemicals. The pollution of water occurring from sewage can be mainly found in developing countries cause the sewage water is not disposed in a properly. In developed nations, a network of sewage pipes is used to take sewage away from cities. Treatment of waste minimizes pollution resulting from it. However, even in developed countries, the older cities may have sewage systems that are leaky.
Sometimes sewage waste is pumped untreated into the sea. According to 2002 figures from the UK government's Department for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the sewers of Britain collect around 11 billion liters of waste water every day, some of it still pumped untreated into the sea through long pipes.
In theory, sewage is a completely natural substance that should be broken down harmlessly in the environment: 90 percent of sewage is water. However, nowadays sewage water can contain all kinds of other chemicals, from the pharmaceutical drugs people take to the paper, plastic, and other wastes they flush down their toilets. When people are sick with viruses, the sewage they produce carries those viruses into the environment. It is possible to catch illnesses such as hepatitis, typhoid, and cholera from river and sea water.
Industrial waste
Various types of industrial wastes are continuously poured in streams, rivers and lakes. The industries that cause pollution are printing, electroplating, soap manufacture, food products, rubber and plastics, chemicals, textiles, steel, sugar factories, glass manufacture etc. If industrial wastes are not released directly into water bodies, they can also percolate through the soil and pollute the groundwater.
Another kind of toxic pollution comes from heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, and mercury. Lead was once commonly used in gasoline (petrol), though its use is now restricted in some countries. Mercury and cadmium are still used in batteries. Until recently, a highly toxic chemical called tributyltin (TBT) was used in paints to protect boats from the ravaging effects of the oceans. Ironically, however, TBT was gradually recognized as a pollutant: boats painted with it were doing as much damage to the oceans as the oceans were doing to the boats.
Mercury enters the human body through contaminated fishes. Many molluscs in streams are found to accumulate considerable amounts of copper and zinc. Cadmium and chromium present in sea are toxic for marine animals.
35 million people rely on the Citarum river on the island of Java, Indonesia, but it has become a toxic river of waste.
Herbicides, cleaning agents and food additives, Fertilizer Pollution
Insecticides, herbicides, cleaning agents, food additives, industrial materials, adhesives and many other synthetic materials containing new chemicals are constantly introduced into water. Each year, approximately 70,000 kinds of organic chemicals are placed on the market that ultimately make their way through environment to the water.
The presence of these highly toxic chemicals is a great concern because of their known toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. Herbicides like monuron, simazin, 2-A-D and 2-4-5-T which are used to clear railroad and highways, weed control in agriculture and forest management are harmful for both plants and animals.
A man who won a landmark lawsuit against the agricultural giant, Monsanto, is speaking out for the first time on "CBS This Morning." Monsanto was ordered to pay $289 million in damages to former school groundskeeper, Dewayne "Lee" Johnson. A jury found the company's widely used glysphosate-based weed killer caused Johnson's terminal cancer.
Residents in Spokane, Washington are going up against agriculture giant Monsanto over accusations that the company is allowing high levels of pollutants to fill local rivers.
Radioactive waste
Many radioactive isotopes escape to water reservoirs, rivers and seas from nuclear power reactors. They enter the food chain in ecosystem. These wastes may accumulate in the bodies of aquatic animals like fishes causing harm to them as well as animals which eat them. At high enough concentrations it can kill; in lower concentrations it can cause cancers and other illnesses. The biggest sources of radioactive pollution in Europe are two factories that reprocess waste fuel from nuclear power plants
The United States produces 2,200 tons of nuclear waste each year…and no one knows what to do with it. The federal government has long promised, but never delivered, a safe place for nuclear power plants to store their spent fuel. This means that radioactive waste is piling up all over the country.
The chemical waste management of The Netherlands should be taken to court. See how politicians take money from this fraudulent system and support chemical dumping in our Noordzee. Watch the full documentary here.
Oil pollution
An oil spill happens when liquid petroleum is released into the environment by vehicle, vessel or pipeline. It happens on a large scale and is mostly seen in water bodies. It happens due to human negligence and is a major form of pollution. Even considering oil by itself, tanker spills are not as significant as they might seem: only 12 percent of the oil that enters the oceans comes from tanker accidents; over 70 percent of oil pollution at sea comes from routine shipping and from the oil people pour down drains on land.
The animal life that lives in the water or near the shore are the ones most affected by the spill. In most cases, the oil simply chokes the animals to death. Others that live face a number of other problems. The oil works its way into the fur and plumage of the animals. As a result, both birds and mammals find it harder to float in the water or regulate their body temperatures.
Many baby animals and birds starve to death, since their parents cannot detect their natural body scent. Birds that preen themselves to get rid of the oil accidentally swallow the oil and die due to the toxic effects. In many cases, the animals become blind due to repeated exposure to the oil. Dolphins, sea otters, fish, countless species of birds and many oceanic mammals face these consequences. Countering these effects and cleaning the oil can take anywhere between a few weeks to many years, depending on the damage caused.
Oil spills seem to becoming more and more common. How long does it take to recover? Is it possible to ever fully recover?
What are the effects of water pollution?
Pollution of our water bodies poses a great threat to humans and the aquatic ecosystem while marked population increase catalyzes climatic changes. For instance, various human activities as well as the release of greenhouse gases by industries greatly contributes to global warming, planet temperature enhancement, and lowering of atmospheric air quality.
Groundwater pollution is strongest in areas of the world with heavy unregulated agriculture, and groundwater makes up 97 percent of the world's fresh water.
Solutions
There have been several calls to reverse the situation both internationally and domestically, but it can only be attained through proper strategies and human effort. Ameliorating the water pollution situation should be a collective effort right from the individual level.
Education
There are immeasurable ways individuals and groups can take initiative or educate people on the dangers of water pollution. It is always a great starting point as a means of fighting the wider causes of water pollution. Individuals and groups aware of the dangers of water pollution can educate family, friends, and even the society as a whole through joint campaigns and advocacy. Examples include the use of media, institutions, and online educative forums. Educative topics can include:
Some of the things individuals can do to help:
The need to use waste bins by never throwing rubbish into riversides, beaches or water bodies.
Wise use of water can also reduce the amount of wastewater that will require treatment.
Avoiding throwing of oils, paints, chemicals and medicines in sink drain or toilet can as well contribute to reducing the dangers of water pollution. Waste consumer products and utilities such as drugs, battery cells, and other chemical wastes can be disposed at designated disposal points where the relevant authorities can collect and dispose them effectively.
Use of more environmentally friendly consumer products at home and in public places can also considerably relieve the pollution burden.
Law and Regulations
Government bodies can create more stringent guidelines and regulation against polluting existing water bodies. Regulations should be strictly enforced to limit toxic chemicals such as environmental hormone like substance, Bisphenol A (BPA), antibiotics and other toxic chemical substances from getting into water bodies.
Sometimes laws and regulations may exist but not follow by the polluters. In such cases action may require from the government bodies for their strict enforcement. In addition government should allocate adequate funds and efforts to restore already polluted water bodies like lakes, reservoir, beach front etc. To preserve and protect our major watersheds for future generations, Government should make various action plans for providing clean water, protecting existing surface and ground water sources and creating awareness against water pollution as well.
Reduce Use of Potential Pollutants
Prevention at the source is one the most effective means of protecting our water bodies. It may be done by regulating specific industries closely like metal mines, pulp and paper, slaughter houses etc. In addition efforts should be made to reduce harmful chemical usage in household products such as phosphates in household cleaning products and laundry/ dishwasher detergents. In addition there are many harmful chemicals found in our existing household cleaners and personal care products. Efforts should be made to replace them with “greener” household cleaners and personal care products.
Sewage/Wastewater Treatment Plant
In theory, sewage contains a natural substance which can be broken down by the environment easily. In fact, 90% of sewage contains water. However, in practice, sewage contains all other types of chemicals such as paper, plastic, and pharmaceutical products that they flush in the toilet.
Untreated or under treated sewage is a major source of water pollution. So nationwide measurement should be taken to build new sewage treatment plants and upgrade the existing ones to meet the acceptable sewage-effluent disposal limit. Sewage effluent disposal outlets to nearby creek and water bodies that do not have sufficient self cleansing capacity need to be replaced. Either stringent treatment technologies need to be adopted or a longer effluent disposal structure need to be rebuilt to find a larger suitable water body.
Stopping Deforestation:
Forests are responsible for soaking up rain water. But when deforestation happens due to unplanned civilization, industrialization and excessive cutting off tress, it exposes the soil surface. Then the storm water runoff carries away sediment and silt along with it and directly contaminants surface water bodies. That is why deforestation should be prevented and more tress should be planted so that they can stop and filter runoff before entering to the water bodies. Government bodies should ensure proper logging and erosion control practices on forest land through rules and regulation and also strictly enforcing those laws.
What do you do to use less water and reduce pollution? By tagging us with #theconsciouschallenge you can share your ideas!
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Sources:
https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/~/media/Publications/1470.pdf
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