Why we should stop water pollution
Water is important for our day to day activities and its preservation should never be overlooked. It is a necessity for the survival of people, marine life, and plants. However, its widespread contamination all over the world is progressively undermining these living things. Polluted water corrupts the entire ecosystem in a number of ways.
Why is water pollution a problem?
Our waterways are drowning in chemicals and lots of contaminated waste. Depending on the degree of contamination and pollution in our rivers and lakes, the world is headed for a catastrophe.
Research has it that more than 5 million people die globally due to the consumption of unsafe water. Scary, right? You can imagine if its pollution continues. Won’t our entire ecosystem be crippled?
Water contamination is a menace due to the following reasons:
1. Endangers aquatic life
Water quality has a major impact on the life of aquatic organisms. Contaminated water with high concentrations of pollutants endangers the biodiversity of aquatic animals to only the tolerant species.
The organic matter and substances present in the polluted water increase the presence of algae thus depleting the oxygen levels in the water. Creatures that depend on water for survival eventually die since its pure state has been compromised.
Rain is a significant part of the water cycle. It is responsible for the greater part of the freshwater on earth. Corrosive downpour, however, contains sulfate particles that harm the wellbeing of marine life and can result in deaths.
Polluted water contains suspended particles. Their main effect is decreasing the measure of daylight entering the water. This blockage majorly affects the development of photosynthetic plants and microorganisms. These plants die off slowly and the ecosystem suffers a loss.
Industrial companies release overwhelming metals into closeby water bodies. The amassing of these substances in water bodies is harmful to amphibian life and consequently to humans. These metals can hinder development, bring about birth imperfections, and some are even cancer-causing.
2. A threat to human life
A wide range of water contamination undermines the wellbeing of humans. It may not damage our health immediately but long term exposure can lead to serious implications.
Different toxins pose danger to human life in the following ways:
- Swimming in contaminated pools prompts skin aggravations and skin ailments.
- Nitrogenous synthetic compounds are answerable for blue infant disorder and malignant growth.
- When irrigation is done by the use of contaminated water, the plants take in some unsafe supplements. When people later eat such food, they are probably going to get sick.
- Infectious diseases are easily spread through contaminated water. Typhoid, cholera, dysentery are some of the diseases you are likely to suffer from as a result of consuming polluted water.
Hundreds of millions face health risks as water pollution continues to rise. With about 1.8 million lives claimed in 2015, this menace is turning into a pandemic.
Why it is important to stop water pollution
Water covers over 70% of the earth’s surface. It is a very important resource for both humans and the ecosystem. It is therefore important that we conserve and ensure its purity. With the increase in urbanization, contamination rates are surging by the day.
You need to stop water pollution in order:
- To prevent waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid.
- To ensure marine life and amphibian plants in water are able to photosynthesize and make food.
- To ensure its abundance for safe use now and for future generations.
The human population is growing rapidly, and so is the demand for water per person. We, therefore, need to do better to ensure sustainable water security.
Harmful effects of contaminated water
You shouldn’t overlook the significance of preventing water from contamination. Polluted water mainly affects people, amphibian life, and the entire ecosystem.
Other impacts of contaminated water are discussed below:
1. Impacts of solid waste contamination
Physical impacts
Solid wastes in water may be organic or inorganic. After treatment, most solid wastes can be identified. They can be distinguished through taste and scent.
Chemical impacts
Corrosive and alkaline waste may change the PH of water to the degree of meddling with the self-filtration process. This renders water profoundly destructive. Its hardness also increases, making it hard for heater use.
Bacterial impacts
The bacterial impact of solid waste is to some degree indirect. Microbes duplicate quickly by getting food from the natural substance of modern waste. And you can tell the effect of large amounts of bacteria in water.
2. Sewage contamination
Contamination by sewage contributes to a high content of natural, inorganic, and bacterial material in water. All these significantly affect the nature of water.
Sewage polluted water is harmful to household and industrial use. It additionally has the following impacts on water.
Physical impacts
The fine solids in sewage lead to high turbidity. This makes it more expensive to treat the water for local and industrial use.
Chemical impacts
Sewage increases the salt content in water. The outcome is water with terrible smell and an undesirable taste.
Bacterial impacts
Unpolluted water has low bacterial levels which can be effectively dealt with by boiling. Sewage incredibly increases the contamination of microscopic organisms (coliform) in water.
To wrap it up
If the correct measures are not put in place, the world is likely to sink into a water crisis. The most affected will be countries with a hot, dry climate.
For this reason, governments, as well as every individual, should strive to properly manage water resources. Water bodies need to be protected from pollution.
As we speak, access to clean water is part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that clean glass of water you enjoy came from a protected source. Do your part by preventing the pollution of these sources.