Water is a fundamental necessity for survival of life on earth. While the proportion of usable freshwater is quite small, the available reserves are being polluted relentlessly by human activities. Water pollution refers to a state in which excessive energy or obnoxious materials are added to the water so as to degrade its quality, making it unfit for living beings.
Scarcity of Clean Water
In many parts of the world, scarcity of clean water is a growing environmental problem. According to the statistics presented by United Nations Environment Program, the total usable freshwater supply for humans and ecosystems is less than one percent of all freshwater resources available on earth. The situation is further aggravated by contaminants added to global water reserves through agricultural farms and industries.
While availability of clean water for drinking, cooking and other household activities is taken for granted in developed countries, the situation in poor countries is grave. According to United Nations estimates, in 2000, 508 million people lived in 31 countries that were short of water; by 2025, there will be 3 billion people in 48 countries in the same situation.
In an interview with Newsweek in 1995, Dr. Ismail Serageldin, former Senior Vice-President of World Bank identified the likely repercussions of the problem saying, "Many of the wars this century were about oil, but those of the next century will be over water."
Lack of Adequate Sanitation
According to the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), 2.5 billion people, including almost one billion children, lack basic sanitation. In many parts of the world, sewage is flushed into fresh water - rivers and streams - which upon subsequent usage is likely to cause disease. Every 20 seconds, a child dies as a result of poor sanitation, estimates WSSCC. The situation is alarming, especially in rural areas having no proper drains and waste disposal systems.
Thermal Water Pollution
Heated water released by cooling towers and other industrial equipment reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of water, thereby disrupting biodiversity of aquatic environments. Sediment pollution originating from construction sites, livestock farms and agricultural fields may clog municipal water systems, smother aquatic life, and increase the turbidity of water. Since cloudy water absorbs more solar radiation; turbid water facilitates thermal pollution.
Water Pollution and Global Warming
When human and animal wastes enter water supplies, the organic compounds present in these wastes provide an energy source for aerobic bacteria; these oxygen-consuming bacteria thrive by decomposing the organic matter, thereby producing carbon dioxide and water. Carbon dioxide is a leading greenhouse gas and a major culprit in global warming and climate change. Additionally, as these bacteria consume oxygen for decomposition of organic matter, they threaten the existence of other aquatic animals by creating an oxygen-deficient environment.
Health Impacts of Water Pollution
According to United Nations World Water Assessment Program (UNWWAP), about 3.4 million people die from water-related diseases every year. Some of these diseases are caused by ingesting water containing harmful microbes; examples include dysentery, typhoid and cholera. Other water-borne ailments such as malaria, yellow fever, and sleeping sickness are transmitted via vector organisms such as mosquitoes that breed in stagnant, dirty water.
Excessive amounts of nitrates in an infant’s drinking water have been shown to cause Blue Baby Syndrome - a condition in which a child’s digestive system cannot process nitrate, thus diminishing blood’s oxygen carrying capacity. Similarly, pharmaceuticals and personal care products abbreviated as PPCPs including medications, soaps and lotions are being found in lakes and rivers in excess quantities; studies have indicated that some synthetic hormones in these products may disrupt natural hormones of aquatic animals like fish.
Water Pollution is a Global Threat
Globally, there is a mounting concern about the rapidly aggravating crisis regarding clean water and safe sanitation. Access to clean water, particularly in the poorest regions remains a daunting challenge. Today, 1.1 billion people - roughly one-fifth of the world’s population - lack access to improved water resources, says UNWWAP. Worldwide, water and sanitation-related diseases, including diarrhea and malaria, account for a significant portion of child mortality cases under five years of age.
The importance of water pollution has been recognized at the global scale. In November 2002, the UN committee on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights declared access to clean water a human right. Moreover, the United Nations has designated 2003 as the international year of fresh water aiming at encouraging the sustainable use of freshwater. Similarly, every year, March 22 is observed as World Water Day.
Controlling Water Pollution
Although industry, agricultural and mining operations are identified as the fundamental sources of water contamination, individuals are also responsible for water pollution to a large extent. Conversely, individuals can play a significant role in reducing water pollution by conserving water, minimizing the use of pesticides in lawns and gardens, consuming detergents with less phosphate contents and ensuring proper maintenance of personal vehicles so as to avoid oil leaks on roads.
Sources:
- Water Pollution, Safe Drinking Water Foundation, Accessed March, 2011.
- 2002, Brown, Paul, Global Pollution, Harcourt Education Ltd.
- 2005, Calhoun, Yael, Water Pollution, Chelsea House Publishers.
- Of Water and Wars, The Hindu, Volume 16, Issue 9, accessed March 2011.
- Water and Health: Two precious resources interwined, UN- World Water Assessment Program, accessed March,2011.
- Water Resources, UN-Water Statistics, accessed March,2011.
- Drinking Water and Sanitation, UN - Water Statistics, accessed March,2011.
Zeeshan Amin - I am a professional mechanical engineer with a diverse experience of over 5 years with Honda Cars, Shell Oil and Nestle.
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