Water pollution

Water that is one octillion litres in volume makes up two-thirds of our globe. Water makes about 70 percent of the human body. It is an all-purpose solvent. It is the only substance on the earth that occurs in all three forms of matter. Water is now recognised as a core human right by the United Nations, as well as an economic commodity.

The introduction of contaminants into the environment is referred to as pollution. Water pollution occurs when a body of water contains high amounts of pollutants (hazards) and is no longer acceptable for common human activities such as bathing, cooking, or drinking.

Water pollution is frequently seen as a result of human activities such as garbage disposal, industrial and agricultural effluents, chemical discharge, and so on. This degrades water quality and has an impact on aquatic life. When humans or animals drink this water to quench their thirst, the health consequences are fatal. Only about 0.3 percent of the world’s freshwater is fit for human use. A ‘pure’ water form is regarded to be water that contains the fewest gases, minerals, and living organisms. However, it is typically believed to have the least number of solutes for all practical uses. Although high-quality water is required for drinking, water quality can be varied for other reasons.

The article includes a discussion of the effects of water contamination as well as preventative measures.

Water Pollution Sources

Let us investigate the origins of water contamination now that we have a better knowledge of what constitutes water pollution. Water pollution comes from a variety of causes. Surface water makes up the majority of freshwater. It can be contaminated by dangerous chemicals seeping in from the surface. When it comes to the source of contamination, there are two basic sources. The first is ‘point’ source pollution, which refers to pollution that emanates from a specific location. The other type of pollution is referred to as ‘nonpoint’ pollution, which refers to contamination caused by diffuse options. Contamination that crosses national borders has the potential to spread to neighbouring countries. Urbanization, heavy use of detergents, pesticides, and fertilisers, and deforestation are all typical causes of water pollution. Many social and religious rituals are significant contributors of water pollution.

Let’s look at some examples of additional current forms of water contamination.

A Modern Epidemic of Water Pollution

The majority of water contamination is caused by human activities and waste products. Water contamination can come from a variety of sources, however the following are some of the most common in today’s world:

Waste from Industry

Many common industrial processes emit massive amounts of hazardous substances including lead and mercury. When humans consume these contaminated goods on a daily basis, they spread to other living creatures. It also has an impact on the water body’s biodiversity.

Waste and Sewage

Thousands of tonnes of sewage waste are dumped into bodies of water. This not only pollutes the environment, but it also releases microorganisms that cause sickness.

Mining

Mining is a major source of pollution in today’s lakes and rivers. This process exposes hazardous compounds buried deep beneath the earth’s surface. When this comes into touch with water, it has deadly consequences for all living things.

Dumping in the Sea

Every day, rubbish is dumped into the seas and oceans, sometimes to the point of becoming garbage islands. A simple step of putting waste goods only in the trash can minimize water contamination by more than half.

Activities in Agriculture

The use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and other runoffs into water bodies during irrigation. In a short period of time, these pollutants pollute water sources.

Wastes that are radioactive

After being used for nuclear weapons or as an energy source, radioactive materials are typically deposited into bodies of water or glaciers, where they will quickly mix with water as the temperature rises.

Population Growth and Urbanization

Cities are unable to meet the demands of an ever-increasing population for water. Due to overuse, this has resulted in contamination and water loss.

Water Pollution’s Consequences

People’s health is one of the most diverse effects of water pollution on humans. The principal effect of water pollution is the disruption of aquatic life. Many disease-causing factors, such as bacteria and viruses, can be found in contaminated water, producing diseases like cholera, giardia, and typhoid. Chronic diseases such as hormone imbalances, hepatitis, impaired brain function, and cancer can all result from it. These water-borne infections are extremely dangerous to a pregnant woman. Swimming in contaminated water is also dangerous since it causes skin and eye allergies.

The environment is also harmed as it slowly eliminates the lives of animals and plants that rely on them for survival. It also encourages the growth of destructive species that deplete the water body’s biodiversity. Algae growth lowers the oxygen level in the water, killing everything in it. Pollution is so bad in some places that it creates “dead zones” where there is no life.

Incident in Minamata

The Minamata Incident, which occurred in 1932, is the worst incidence of water pollution in history. Methylmercury and its effluents began to pour from a Japanese industry. Methylmercury is one of the most common causes of neurological problems in humans. The impacts were first undetectable until seashells began to absorb the poisonous substances. People and other local guys began to eat these fish, and the negative consequences became apparent quickly.

Animals like cats and dogs were among the first to be affected by this toxin. This incidence gave rise to the term “dancing cat illness,” which refers to the sounds made by cats before they convulse and die. Loss of motor coordination, acute mercury poisoning, ataxia, and even speech and hearing problems were among the symptoms. Coma and paralysis have been reported in severely affected people, leading to death.

It took the Japanese government and officials 36 years to realise the gravity of the catastrophe and provide assistance to the victims. The Japanese government soon followed suit, opening doors to begin safeguarding their water bodies and implementing adequate water pollution control methods.

Ganges River Pollution

India’s Ganges is the world’s sixth most polluted river (Ganga). Cremation of human remains, as well as other religious rites, resulted in tainted water entering the river. Cholera and typhoid are very common diseases spread by this river.

Even the river’s fauna has suffered, with famous examples including the Ganges River Dolphin and Ganges River Shark. In India, about 1000 children die each year as a result of water pollution. There are now a few efforts being done to get away from this point and effectively address these issues.

Water Pollution Control Measures

Now that we’ve grasped the notion of water contamination, let’s look at some of the measures employed to combat it. Water contamination can be prevented and controlled in a variety of ways. To begin, more trees should be planted around water bodies because they naturally help to ingest and recycle contaminants. A few key points are mentioned below.

• A plant called ‘Water Hyacinth’ absorbs dissolved hazardous compounds like cadmium and mercury from water bodies, thereby eliminating contaminants from the environment.
• It is critical to properly dispose of waste and not to dump it directly into water bodies without first treating it.
• Before directly disposing of chemicals and other items into water bodies, industries should handle their wastes carefully. Industries develop sewage treatment plants and wastewater treatment plants to treat the water utilised so that it can be safely mixed into river streams. It also makes water recycling possible.
• Natural fertilisers and pesticides are better for plants and water than chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
• Coagulation, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and other chemical procedures will significantly reduce water contamination.

Finally, to reduce overall pollution, it is preferable to reduce water use in our regular activities and reuse water whenever possible.

Conclusion:

In conclusion of the article, it can be said that we have learned about what water pollution is and the control measures taken to reduce it. Case studies of water pollution are also mentioned in the article.