The Prerequisites and Consequences of Water Pollution - Case Study Example

Running Head: WATER POLLUTION Water Pollution Water that humans drink is a significant determinant of his wellbeing and health and therefore pollutedwater is a global issue that man cannot afford to ignore. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more or less one sixth of the world’s population or around 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe water. About 2.4 billion of them lack basic sanitation and for most of the citizens in the European Union access to safe water is not given enough attention. Such neglect poses a huge burden on the quality and quantity of safe water. This will eventually take its toll on the environment and do damage on the health of the populace (www.epha.org 2009). Although we are adequately aware that we need clean water to grow crops, to operate factories, and for our personal consumption and even in recreation, we are still contributing to its destruction in many ways. Everyday oil, pet droppings and pesticides go to the street drains and eventually drain into the sea. (Mantica 2004). Many of the pollutants we are contributing greatly harm our rivers, streams, lakes and oceans. Common among these pollutants are soil, nutrients and bacteria. As rains washes soil into streams and rivers tiny animal and fish eggs are killed and it also leads to the clogging of the gills of fish and blocks sunlight that causes the death of some plants in the water to die. Moreover, when nutrients from fertilizers make nitrogen and phosphorus abound in the waters algae thrive and cause the water to be colored green. Fresh and salt water are frequently polluted by bacteria that originate from the sewage material (www.nlm.nih.gov 2009). It became a prescription to be 200 feet distant from different outfall pipes since such pipes may carry contaminated water even more when its appearance is uncommonly murky or has bright green algae, which is a sign that sewage is present. It is best to keep away from such locations (Mantica 2004). Ecological degradation of freshwater resources is becoming a worldwide threat apart from its exploitation and ineffectual management. A main source of freshwater pollution can be attributed to the runoff from agricultural fields, untreated wastes or dumping of industrial effluent that are released into these bodies of water. The amount of nutrients that are present in the freshwater system such as phosphorous and nitrates is a global problem. In most scenarios, the main source of the pollutants is the upsurge of the utilization of manufactures fertilizers and manure in agriculture worldwide. For instance, in the US, agriculture is the main font contamination which disintegrates the value of surface waters such as lakes and rivers because croplands single handedly account for almost forty percent of the nitrogen contaminants and thirty percent of phosphorous (Revenga et al 2000). In 2002, contaminated waters due to runoffs forced the closing of about 12,000 or more beaches. Eventually, the public was encouraged to choose a beach under the monitoring of environmental or public health officials to prevent the diseases that can be acquired on these polluted seas due to the runoffs (Mantica 2004). Travelers are also encouraged to view the reports of the water quality of the various beaches which can be found on the website of related government websites. As the use of synthetic substances becomes more common across industries, their improper disposal poses serious adverse impacts on freshwater bodies. The general observation is that developed countries’ problem in polluted freshwater stems from chemical discharge into the water sources mainly groundwater. On the other hand, in developing countries, the problem stems from agricultural run-off in water sources (www.edugreen.teri.res.in 2009). The most alarming is that the condition of the water problems in the developing countries appears to worsen due to the increase of the population, industrialization in the areas with no appropriate infrastructure and choosing dense area as a place of settlement of people. Obviously, the abusive utilization of drinkable water supplies is increasing. However, in the developed countries, water problems are becoming less alarming but it would be very reckless to ignore them (Greenberg 2009). There many ways by which water are contaminated in urban areas. Among the most acknowledge source of pollutants are leaky water pipe joints in places where the water pipe and sewage line are near each other. Likewise, various sources can contaminate groundwater. The frequently identified are the sources include pesticides, nutrients, synthetic organics, sewage, and acidification. Furthermore, drinking water may be contaminated by chemicals through either natural or man-made ways. It may be through fluoride, arsenic, lead, recreational use of water petrochemicals, other heavy metals and chlorinated solvents. Metal and plastic effluents, fabric cleaning, electronic and aircraft manufacturing are often discharged and contaminate groundwater (www.edugreen.teri.res.in 2009). Diseases Contaminated water is the carrier of water-borne diseases. Although these diseases may also be carried by other media but water was deemed to be the chief medium for the spread of these diseases. For instance, the researchers of the University of California, Irvine, connected those contaminated used water with the waterborne illnesses. Wave riders in the area of North Orange County were reported to have more diarrheas, together with fever, stomach pains, vomiting, eye redness and skin infections as compared to those who are surfing at a more rural beach. The water from the suburban Orange County and the urban Los Angeles drains into the Pacific Ocean. It was also noted that most diseases occur often usually after the heavy rains (Mantica 2004). It is also noteworthy that the rate of infection for individuals with diarrhoeal illness is about 2 per cent in industrialized countries compared to 5 to 10 per cent in developing countries (Donnelly et al 1997). Most enteric diseases come from transmitted faecal waste. When a man discharges faecal waste, disease-producing agents called pathogens comes with it. The pathogens are then transmitted to persons handling food and water by traveling through water sources. This is rampant in areas where there is poor sanitation. The diseases these pathogens bring are highly infectious and it is advised that people looking after infected people to take extreme care and hygiene. The most common water-borne diseases include hepatitis, cholera, dysentery, and typhoid. Populations in tropical regions are the most affected by these diseases. Polluted water is the cause of some health problems such as water-borne diseases but prevention can start at the household level (www.edugreen.teri.res.in 2009). In the event that nitrates contaminate drinking water, the water may prove to be fatal to humans especially the infants that drink formula milk as since it restricts the supply of oxygen to the baby’s brain and eventually cause the ‘blue baby’ syndrome. Nitrate in water is also blamed for digestive tract cancers because it causes algae to bloom and result in eutrophication in surface water. Contamination to petrochemicals and benzene can also increase the possibility of developing cancer even at low exposure levels. Chlorinated solvents, on the other hand, may lead to reproduction disorders and to some cancers. The presence of arsenic can damage the liver and nervous system. It may also lead to vascular diseases and also skin cancer. Heavy metals in water can lead to certain damages in the nervous system, the kidney, and other metabolic activities. High level of salts can make the fresh water unusable for drinking and irrigation purposes. Untreated and stagnant water also provide a breeding area for mosquito as well as other parasites and insects that may spread diseases especially in tropical areas. Among the most popular is malaria which is undoubtedly most widely distributed and has one of the greatest damage to human health (www.edugreen.teri.res.in 2009). A long list of chemicals that contaminate safe water can stem from other natural or through the activities of man, ad thereby leading to various diseases. For instance, form pesticides an individual may get cancer or other damages in the nervous system. Other pesticides contain carcinogens that pass beyond recommended levels get to the point where the chlorides they contain leads to reproductive and endocrinal damage. Contaminated water may also contain lead which may be hazardous to health as it increments up to a level that is enough to adversely affect the nervous system. This risk is prevalent among children and pregnant women. On the other hand, excessive fluoride in water may cause the teeth to turn yellow and do damages to the spinal cord as well as contribute to other crippling diseases (www.edugreen.teri.res.in 2009). In Israel, divers of the Kishon River system who were exposed to the sediments and waters increased their chance of having cancer (Friedman et al 2009). More heavy metals pollute water nowadays; and these adversely affect our health. There are even effects bad water on personal appearance (Banashek, 1990). Actions taken The environmental movement of 1970 was driven by the scene which was projected by the abhorrently contaminated waterways. Almost a hundred years before in the United States and UK, the hazards of contaminated water to the health of the people inspired what became popular as “sanitary revolution”, which stressed the clean water supply and sewerage systems in the metropolis. Presently, amidst the success of the clean up of the waterways in various areas, water contamination still continues to be a grave problem, with effects on the health of the ecosystem of freshwater and the communities built by the people who depend on them for water source (Revenga et al 2000). Reducing pollution exposure is largely a technical issue as described in the diagram below. Some of the important steps that Europe’s authorities take to promote protection of its waters include the integration of water protection objectives into policy areas. This has impacted agriculture, infrastructure and land use planning sectors. They are also taking steps to ensure that the groundwater is protected from the release of hazardous substances into our environment and that the prime standards for public health protection are in place (www.epha.org 2009). Another innovative example can be that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiative to support implementation of Water Safety Plans (WSPs) in Latin American and Caribbean countries together with various public health partners. WSP are new strategies promoted by the World Health Organization or WHO. It is used to evaluate and manage the risk factors in drinking water systems. One of the significant qualities of WSPs is their effectiveness in the expansion of partnerships for safe drinking waters which is offered not only to the suppliers but also to the stockholders. One example is the countries in the Caribbean and Latin America, where the present endeavors for WSP of CDC are centered on the improvement of the infrequent supply of water which forces the households to store water. Even the areas which are usually wet experience periods of droughts and floods. Due to the fact that these wet areas are spoiled by an abundant supply of water, it is difficult for them to cope up with the little supply of water. For instance, they have few infrastructures to conduit waters from areas of excess to the locations which have deficit supply. They also infrequently consider conservation except during the period of drought (Greenberg 2009). As such, safeguarding the public health becomes a difficult task since it is more challenging to equip the consumers with knowledge about the processes like household water treatment and identification of the risks which include water collection contamination and storage resulting to the reduced water quality before making it to the consumers’ home (Gelting 2009). The goal of WSP is to give assistance to the suppliers of drinking water as well as its stakeholders to enhance the quality of water and to regularly come across the health standards by means of restraining the pollution of the source waters. This can be done by (1) controlling the activities done near the wellhead or the watershed; (2) making effective the inactivation or eradication of the pollutants in the process of the water treatment and; (3) avoiding the occurrence of recontamination while in the process of handling, storage and distribution (Gelting 2009). When the management of the water resources is inadequate or incompetent, there is a high possibility that water-borne diseases and water-caused health problems will persist. A good yardstick of the safeness of water is how much of it is guaranteed accessible, sustainable and equitable. Accessibility pertains to the number of people who are guaranteed with safe water at sufficient amounts. Efforts of sustaining it should be carried out and the equitable distribution of safe water should be furthered. Generally, the urban areas have greater access to safe water compared to the rural areas. The dichotomy is also apparent within the area such that areas that can pay for safe water will have access to it. The others will have to do with pumps (www.edugreen.teri.res.in 2009). Data from the United Nations reveal that over one billion people or 1 out of every 6 people have no available or inadequate access to a protected drinking water while the other two billion have an undesirable sanitation. And this situation may lead to the occurrence of disease, more specifically those related with contaminated water (Greenberg 2009). The technique utilized by the WSP which aids in assuring the provision of a safe water supply is supple and readily available. The approach also recognizes the opportunities for the enhancement of production and operations management processes which is less effective and develops water safety measures, perfects efficacy and reduces operational costs. It also enhances the awareness of the stakeholders of the entire water supply chain and the susceptibilities that comes with it. Moreover, it enriches the communication and partnerships among the main stakeholders like the water suppliers, the customers and the regulation officers as well as the industrial, health and environmental groups. Furthermore, the technique aids in the corroboration and prioritization of the necessities in equity growth and in the influence of financial support (Gelting 2009). Water planners are considering creating fossil fuel and nuclear power plants that will desalinate water to meet the predicted rising water demands. Such strategy implies a height of anxiety that should be prevented. Water supply and sanitation, pose chronic public and environmental health challenges that are rarely found in the network news or front pages (Greenberg 2009). WSP is comparable to an HAACP plan which must be perceived more as an opportunity for constant enhancement while undergoing the processes than a mere practice on one occasion in the creation of a plan that was never put to actual day-to-day exercise. WSP is an effective means that can be utilized and must be modernized in order to adapt to the changing situations since drinking water systems are vibrant, and are usually with constantly changing in supply circumstances. In areas of the different regions and countries, WSPs have been utilized. These are countries in Australia, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and countries in the Western Pacific. In countries of the Caribbean and Latin America, most pilot WSPs with CDC participation have been realized in Peru, Aguas Verdes, Ecuador, Huaquillas, Uruguay, Dolores, St. Lucia, Mobouya Valley, Jamaica, Spanish Town and Honduras among others (Gelting 2009). Furthermore, CDC is also connected with partners like the World Health Organization (WHO), the Inter – American Society of Sanitary and Environmental Engineers (AIDIS), the International Water Association and, and the Pan-American Health Organization. They help in the creation of regional associations which support the execution of WSPs. This was inaugurated at the annual conference of AIDIS in Santiago, Chile on October 2008 and covers WSP’s promotion factors, research, communication and supporting implementation. While WSPs are not generally employed in the US, the primary and fundamental qualities that were previously mentioned can be utilized in order to aid in the assurance of safe drinking water in many micro water systems in US that are often dealt with many health practitioner (Gelting 2009). Conclusion There are three major typical descriptions of water problems of the developing nations. One picture is a child or a woman with a bucket traveling in a long distance just to fetch water which can possibly be polluted. A second is an untreated sewage being drained directly into the body of water and the third is the loss of drinkable source due to the abuse and maltreatment which are mostly redirected into the body of water. Water has always been an issue regardless of the idea that over 70% of the earth is covered by it. And some of its sources which are available are contaminated and therefore become inappropriate for its intended use. Water is required for manufacturing, agriculture, drinking, hygiene, and sanitation (Greenberg 2009). The importance and the need to provide safe water source should be reiterated. Everyone is encouraged to maximize the use of abundant and clean water and not to take it for granted. While the other nations and countries struggles over natural gas, oils, uranium and other resources, it is believed that in the long run usable water may be the most wanted resources (Greenberg 2009). References Banashek, M. (1990). Defensive measures. Health, 90(8), 66. Donnelly, J.K., and Stentiford, E.I. (1997). Water-borne cryptosporidiosis: a recurring problem. Environmental Management and Health. Vol. 8, Iss. 4; pg. 112 Friedman, L., Richter, E., and Froom, P. (2009). Exposure to water pollution and cancer in Israeli navy divers. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 15(4), 421-423. Gelting, R. (2009). Water safety plans: CDCs role. Journal of Environmental Health, 72(4), 44-45. Greenberg, M. 2009. Why is water an issue? American Journal of Public Health, 99(11), 1927. Mantica, A. 2004. Catch a safer wave. Prevention, 56(8), 37. Revenga, C. and Mock G. 2000. Dirty water: Pollution problems persist. Pilot analysis of global ecosystems. 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