Water Pollution and Drinking Water Safety - Research Paper Example

?Water Pollution and Drinking Water Safety Introduction Water is the most abundant commodity on the earth’s surface. In addition, it is the most valuable commodity that is available to humanity and other forms of life. The high value of water does not protect it from misuse, as it is one of the most misused commodities. The earth surface is 72% water most of it in liquid form. Drinking is a major use of water and, this draws the boundary between clean and polluted water. Water pollution is the introduction of foreign substance or contaminant on natural water sources such as rivers and lakes. Water pollution is a life-threatening problem and it has been attributed to civilization and increased human activities. Water that is available for drinking is continuously replaced by polluted water. This essay will investigate the implication of water pollution on drinking water. Different forms of water pollution can broadly be classified as natural and artificial pollution. Natural pollution is the introduction of foreign substance on water bodies through natural processes. This includes water pollution through soil erosion and other biological process such as decay. On the other hand, artificial pollution is the introduction of pollutant into water bodies through human activities. This includes intentional and unintentional dumping of material in water bodies. Industrial wastes, raw sewerage, agricultural chemicals, and domestic refuse are the main artificial water pollutant. Water pollution can be either point source or non point source. Point source water pollution refers to the entry of pollution through a single or a major point (Postel 97). This is a major characteristic for pollution caused by industrial waste. Non point source pollution refers to the introduction of pollutant through a multiple points. This is a major source of pollution for water bodies such as rivers passing through urban centers. The high rate of pollution of surface water has increased the importance of underground water as a source of drinking water. Unlike surface water, ground water is free from artificial pollution. However, ground water is prone to natural pollutant that makes it unsafe for drinking. Chemical substance such as sodium, iron, and manganese are the main pollutant of ground water. The level of concentration these substance determines the level of water pollution (Postel 91). In most cases, chemical pollution of ground water reaches severe levels making it unsafe for human consumption. This indicates that pollution is a major problem and a problem that threatens humanity. Pollution of ground water contributes to the scarcity of drinking water since ground water is the only alternative for safe drinking water that people have. Impacts of water pollution Pollution depletes water that is available for human consumption or for drinking. This is a problem of particular interest to developed countries. Despite being developed, people in these countries do not have access to drinking water due to pollution. India and China leads other countries in terms of water pollution and scarcity of safe drinking water. This is a contradiction since countries like China have abundant fresh water sources. Similarly, India has massive water resources despite its rivers being among the most polluted. Lack of safe drinking water in these countries is well indicated by the number of deaths that results from water poisoning (Cloete 104). It is estimated that in India 14, 000 people die annually due to water poisoning. The children are the most affected by lack of safe drinking water. Currently the country’s medical facilities handle over 1000 cases resulting from water related problems. Most of these cases are fatal and they cause most infant deaths. A survey carried by Habitat for Humanity on water bodies in US indicated that 47% of lakes in the country are at a severe state of pollution. In addition, 32% of bays and estuarine are polluted. This statistics shows that the countries suffer from acute water pollution and lack of drinking water. Water for domestic uses and drinking is obtained freely or at low cost in most countries. This results from the fact that water is the most abundant commodity on the earth’s surface and it is freely available. However, water pollution is continuously increasing the cost of water in many countries. This results from demands that greatly exceed supply or availability. Safe drinking water is becoming a rare commodity in most countries promoting the high cost for drinking water. Most people are turning to bottled water as their main source of drinking water. This trend is unsustainable since not all people can afford bottled water or have access to bottled water. In addition, the marginal cost for water does not match the escalating water prices. This indicates that water from natural sources has more utility than the commercialized water. Drinking water is a necessity while human activities such as industrialization, farming, and water transport are requirements. This implies that, water pollution has a degree of inevitability. It is therefore an effort to ensure availability of safe drinking water despite the increased levels of water pollution. Water treatment therefore, stands as the sole method of reclaiming polluted or used water. Water treatment refers to the systematic elimination of pollutant from contaminated water to make it safe for drinking. The different types of water treatment that are available depend on the nature or type of water pollutant. The main purpose of water treatment is to reduce scarcity of the commodity by crating alternative sources of drinking water. In addition, water treatment enhances water conservation by reducing wastage of water (Cloete 113). Although water treatment is a possible solution to the problem of water scarcity and water pollution, not all types of polluted water can be reclaimed for drinking. Water treatment is an expensive procedure and it cannot be used on all types of pollution. Natural water pollutants are more easily eliminated through water treatment than artificial water pollutant. Muddy water polluted by erosion can be purified through simple processes such as sedimentation and filtration. On the other hand, water containing industrial waste requires treatment through complicated chemical procedures. The type of pollutant therefore, determines the nature of water treatment plant or facility. Water Treatment Water treatment ranges from simple water treatment procedures that can be carried out in homes to more complicated procedures that require collective efforts. Simple procedures such as boiling water can be utilized at domestic level to make water safe for human consumption. Industrial water treatment involves a series of procedures that produces large quantities of safe drinking water. The first process in industrial water treatment is the filtration process. This process eliminates solid water contaminants. Sedimentation process is the next step and, it is used to remove sediments or foreign materials that sink in water. Coagulation process is critical in elimination of floating contaminants. The last process involves a series of chemical treatment to remove or eliminate dissolved chemical substances. Chemical treatment is also carried out to balance the chemical composition of drinking water by introducing essential chemical element. Conclusion Increased pollution resulting from increased human and industrial activities is the main cause of widespread water pollution. Pollution reduces the availability of clean drinking water and it is becoming a major problem in developed and developing countries. Water pollution increases scarcity of clean drinking water by raising the cost beyond the reach of many people. Scarcity of clean drinking water is a major cause of death and illness in many countries. Water treatment is therefore an essential process that can be utilized to rehabilitate drinking water. Works Cited Cloete, Botes. Nanotechnology in Water Treatment Applications. Norfolk: Caister Academic Press, 2010. Print. Postel,Sally. Last Oasis: Facing Water Scarcity. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1992. Print. Appendix Photograph 1. Water pollution caused by raw sewerage. Photograph 2. Pollution caused by soil erosion. Photograph 3. Water pollution caused by industrial waste. Source: http://www.thewaterq.com/wnews1/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=341:statutory-law-of-water-pollution&catid=89:usa-water&Itemid=463 Photograph 4. Water treatment plant Water treatment process Water pollutant Water purification method Soil and small pebbles Pathogens Solid waste Chemical substance Siltation Chlorination/ boiling Floatation/ filtration Ion exchange/ neutralization Table 1. Read More