Water pollution prevention - Research Paper Example

Water Pollution For a sustainable life on planet earth, water is one of the most important indispensable commodity without which survival of human life and all the other life forms is not possible. It affects our economy, health and lifestyle. The major utilization of this resource is in industries such as agriculture, hydroelectric power generation, transportation, industry along with domestic and commercial uses. Major portions of the earth’s surface are covered with water in the form of oceans and ice caps and therefore difficult to recover; however, only 3% of these water bodies (rivers, lakes) constitute fresh water available for human consumption. Also rainwater is a major source of our water supply on earth. Water pollution has become a global environmental issue due to rapid industrialization, population boom, increased economic activities and demand for fresh water has increased manifolds in the past years. Any detrimental variation (physical, chemical or biological) in the state of water by contamination of harmful substances is known as water pollution (Goel1). It influences all the water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans and ground water. It affects human beings, plants, animals, birds and fish etc. and is responsible for disturbing the natural ecosystem on earth. There are several sources for water contamination however; there are two primary routes through which these contaminants enter surface water, ground water, drinking water and soil/sediment water. (a) Point source pollution. The discharge of distinct pollutant sources directly into water bodies and aquatic systems (USEPA 14). For example: 1. Domestic/Municipal sewage: The waste water generated from household/commercial activities contains organic (food waste) and inorganic waste (nitrates and phosphates) (WWF 2). The amount of organic waste that water bodies can degrade is determined in terms of Biological oxygen demand. BOD is the amount of oxygen required by the microorganisms to decompose organic matter and thus the higher amount of BOD in a water body signifies that it is polluted with organic waste. However, inorganic wastes produced largely by soaps and detergents are non-degradable and upon entering the water bodies causes serious implications on ecosystem. 2. Industrial effluents: Waste water containing organic pollutants and toxic chemicals (lead, mercury, nitrates and phosphates) from manufacturing and processing industries causes water pollution. Also, disposal of solid and gaseous wastes from nuclear and thermal power plants are a source of water pollution (Agarwal 37). 3. Agriculture: Agricultural wastes include manure, slurries and run off. Manure being rich in nitrates and phosphates seeps in the sediments/ground water causing water pollution. 4. Atmospheric gases: As a result of industrial gaseous emissions and automobile exhaust the concentration of dissolved gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulphur dioxide, ammonia and carbon dioxide is increased sufficiently in atmosphere. Subsequently, the water in close proximity to these polluted areas becomes concentrated with these gases resulting in water pollution (Agarwal 39). (b) Non-point source pollution (NPS): Contaminants entering indirectly into water bodies through ground/soil water or atmosphere through rain comprise of NPS. These include gaseous emissions from factories, automobiles, agricultural run-off etc. (USEPA 13). Agricultural NPS is the leading source of water quality degradation and is majorly caused by runoff soils carrying fertilizers, growth hormone residue, pesticides and heavy metals etc. Other sources of water pollution include spillage of oil and harmful substances in water bodies, atmospheric deposition, marine dumping, radioactive wastes and global warming. All of these have devastating and extensive damage effects on aquatic life (Agarwal 37). Harmful effects of water pollution are: 1. Source of contaminants/pathogens to human beings: According to UN world water Assessment Program, around 2.3 billion people suffer from diseases related to polluted water and 5 million die each year (Calhoun 7). Pathogens found in contaminated water include bacteria, viruses, intestinal parasites and several microorganisms which can cause diseases such as typhoid, diarrhea, cholera, hepatitis A, dysentery etc. Other ailments such as malaria, yellow fever, sleeping sickness etc are spread by vector organisms that live and breed in stagnant, polluted water. Nonpathogenic contaminants pose serious health risks varying from skin problems, cancers and birth defects. These include toxic and chemical products such as pesticides, insecticides, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium), metals (lead, arsenic and mercury), pharmaceutical (antibiotics) and chlorination byproducts etc. (Ritter et al. 1) 2. Unbalanced ecosystem. Inorganic contaminants such as phosphates and nitrates produced by soaps, detergents and agricultural runoff causes phenomena like algal blooms and eutrophication. Thus, limiting sunlight penetration to water and leading to depleted oxygen supply and suffocation to aquatic life including fish and shell fish (Calhoun 9). As a result detrimental effects are produced at each level in food chain and subsequently balance of ecosystem is disturbed. 3. Deforestation: As a result of rapid urbanization, wrong cultivation practices and natural erosion process, water pollution is increased manifold. Due to this, rapid deforestation is witnessed which disturbs the flora and fauna of a locality (Agarwal 40). Prevention of water pollution: Rapid research and technological advancements has resulted in better options for treating polluted water, however it is a relatively time consuming and costly process. Therefore, pollution prevention and waste water generation minimization are better practices which should be adapted. Several steps have proven to be successful in limiting water pollution which includes legislative laws to treat and neutralize industrial waste before being released in water bodies and ban on toxic and harmful chemical products such as DDT and PCBs. Remedial steps which may be taken to prevent water pollution comprise of placement of efficient sewage treatment plants that employ biological treatment of waste water. This modern technology uses microorganisms to degrade the solid organic waste present in polluted water. Similarly, educating farmers on agricultural sources of pollution, minimizing the use of insecticides and pesticides, control of runoff water and soil may prove to be beneficial in controlling water pollution by 20-70%. Also, introduction of integrated pest management (IPM) in farms has proven to be cost effective with high yields and less pollution. Likewise, increasing oxygen levels in water bodies such as lakes that have undergone eutrophication may help in restoring the natural balance of ecosystem (Calhoun 9). A potential alternative which is not being practiced extensively but holds great hope in management of polluted water is its reutilization after treatment. Making polluted viable for irrigation and as coolant and processing in industries is the main objective of this practice. One of the recent technologies developed to rectify water pollution is nanotechnology which employs nano-particles to remove chemical contaminants through a chemical reaction. On an individual level, replacements of house hold chemical products to eco-friendly goods, reducing the use of water, planting more trees and proper disposal of waste may prove to be helpful in preventing water pollution. Works Cited Agarwal, S. Water Pollution. APH publishing, 2005. 37-40. Print. Calhoun, Yael. Water pollution. Infobase publishing, 2005. 7-9. Print. Goel, P. Water Pollution - Causes, Effects & Control. New Age International, 2006. 1-2. Print. Ritter L, Solomon K, Sibley P, Hall K, Keen P, Mattu G and Linton B. Sources, pathways, and relative risks of contaminants in surface water and groundwater: a perspective prepared for the Walkerton inquiry. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental health part A, 2002. 11:65(1):1 U.S.E.P.A. Rivers and streams, in National water quality inventory: report. www.epa.gov/nps, 2002. 13-14. Web. W.W.F. Water pollution factsheet Environmental pollution unit. www.wwf.org, 2010. 1. Web. Read More