Water is the molecule of life chemically composed of hydrogen and oxygen. Despite its simplicity in structure and bonding, the value of water for sustainability of human life-form is eminent. The greatest gift of nature, as termed by some for water, has made it possible for life to bloom here on earth. Humans have exploited this natural resource to a level from where absolute recovery is almost impossible. Ironically, the water that is boon for us at our times of thirst, is itself suffering from thirst; it needs recovery. The misuse of water has caused damaging consequences and a threat to human life. Water pollution is one of the major crises of the world that has caused havoc for aquatic flora and fauna, and also led to catastrophic bloom regarding human health.
About 70% of total area of the earth is carpeted with water, out of which only 2.5% is fresh water that is feasible for human consumption. It is bitter reality that around 70% of industrial waste is dumped into the water bodies around the world. This dumping of wastes creates a vicious cycle that has direct impact on aquatic life. Human health problems that are evolving currently, have a major share from water pollution as a casualty. Also, the damage to aquatic life is not limited only to one species, but also to all natural biological communities.
It is stated fact that about fourteen billion pounds of garbage, mostly plastic is dumped into oceans each year. Current scenario has shown that most of these wastes are not biodegradable. Plastic wastes are believed to cause deaths of more than 100,000 sea mammals, sea birds and various types of fishes. Crisis of water pollution in America shows that about 40% of rivers and 46% of lakes are polluted and are termed unsanitary. Majority of the share of water pollution goes to domestic sewages. Improper techniques of disposal of wastes like throwing garbage in open places and water bodies have led to water pollution. The cases of groundwater poisoning also reveal a clear-cut image of how our entire water system has now become unsuitable and is rendering hazardous diseases. Groundwater in China is used as a source of drinking water of which about 20% is highly contaminated with carcinogenic chemicals resulting in high level of water pollution. Similarly, arsenic contamination in groundwater of Bangladesh has now occurred as a major problem. As arsenic is a potent acute poison and a carcinogenic compound, it has created a deleterious effect on health of people. The carcinogenic and toxic chemicals are basically the products of large scale industries that use different forms of chemicals in the manufacturing process. The prevalence of unscientific and unethical dumping mechanism within these industries has led to this devastating condition of water impurity.
Outbreak of severe epidemic diseases due to water pollution is another pivotal point today. It is estimated that about 15 million children of below 5 years of age die each year because of diseases caused by drinking polluted water. As per UNICEF, about 3000 children die every day due to intake of polluted drinking water. Water pollution is the major and most vital cause of various diseases like cholera, malaria, typhoid, diarrhea, etc. The presence of bacteria, viruses and parasites renders different diseases that primarily affect the children. Bacteria found in the rivers of Asian sub-continent are three times more in number than on global average. Defecation in the open in rural areas of developing and under-developed countries is another potent cause of water pollution thus creating a threat to human health and degrading quality of water in nearby water bodies. Discharge of urban sewage in lakes, rivers and other water bodies also cause outbreak of diseases. India has become a major victim of water pollution where 1000 children die every day due to consumption of contaminated water. The effects that are being seen due to water pollution are not direct actions but reactions to human over dependence and encroachment on water. ‘The thirst of polluted water’ to create havoc will increase in further days if certain measures are not adopted to preserve our natural water ecosystem.
There is no single and absolute source of water pollution. Varieties of factors have led to this present status of water. Because of its spatial distribution, utmost availability and fluidity, water is one of the easiest medium for disposal of waste. ‘Ganges’ river of India and ‘Bagmati’ river of Nepal are typical examples of human encroachment on rivers. The water of these rivers contains trashes, cans, sewages, food wastages, plastics, industrial wastes, animal remains, etc. that are the major pollutants of water. Every major river of each country of the world is polluted. Thames river of England was typical example, but today, due to effective management practices, it has survived massive pollution to some extent.
Pollution of river and lakes causes problems of more severity within a short time than that of oceans. This is because rivers and lakes are major sources of fresh water that is used in our everyday life. Threatening effects are seen due to pollution of oceans. Oceans, being the collection centers of all the small and large water bodies, incorporate all the wastes that they carry. One typical example is nuclear crisis in Japan after devastating Tsunami of 2011. The Japanese government dumped 11 million litres of radioactive water into the Pacific ocean. At about 65 km long island of debris appeared floating out into the Pacific due to Tsunami. Also, the outbreak of Tsunamis in different places of the world appeared as a major source of water pollution.
Wastes from Cruises and accidental wastes from cargo ships also contribute to global water pollution. The events of oil spills in oceans are not new to us. Huge oil spill caused by BP in 2010 produced massive pollution of water. Many of the endangered aquatic species were found dead due to the spill. There’s this certainty that in the future too, oil spills will pollute the ocean water to great extent. It is estimated that about 200,000 gallons of sewage from cruise ships are released into the ocean every year. Also, they are causing 35,000 gallons of water pollution due to spilling of oil each year. Although water route of transport is cheaper, it has a major drawback and that is water pollution. The number of ships is in increasing order each year that will for sure pollute the ocean water in coming days. The day is not far, when all of the water sources available on earth will be so contaminated that existence of humankind will be in peril.
The sustainability of human race is directly dependent on status of water. A survey done by Food and Water watch cities reveals that about 3.5 billion people will be facing problems of water shortage by 2025. This shortage will be created primarily by water pollution. As human population increases, the intensity of water pollution will also increase, ultimately causing shortage of pure, fresh water for survival of mankind. In order to meet the physiological demand of body and to maintain fluidity in body, water is a must. Thus, water pollution has major impact on human race as well as aquatic life.
Different initiatives have been started at both local and global level for control of water pollution and preservation of water resources. With the zeast of “Our water is thirsty, it needs protection and preservation”, these initiatives are brought into action. The problem is that, water pollution has now reached a level from which coming back to life again is almost impossible. There is less hope for already polluted ones. Our areas of focus must be those water bodies that are in the verge of being massively polluted. Reduction in concentration of pollutants in these water resources might add up a hope of preservation of water for future generations.
Local initiatives are much helpful for prevention of pollution in local water bodies such as lakes, ponds, streams and rivers. Proper disposal of wastes and prevention of direct contamination of local water bodies might be helpful. As we discussed earlier, defecation and random disposal of degradable as well as non-degradable wastes in rural areas lead to water pollution. One big step that every individual can adopt is to minimize water pollution from individual level and counteract prevailing pollution issues. Local campaigns for cleaning of rivers and lakes have proved their efficiency for control of water pollution. “Clean Bagmati” programme conducted in Nepal has proved itself noteworthy. These sorts of local initiatives not only clean the water resources, but also help to raise awareness among individuals about present status of water and their role in control of water pollution.
Global initiative can be massive awareness programmes about present status of water resources throughout the world. Comparing to past, the knowledge and information about water pollution among individuals has highly escalated at global scale. But, pollution is also increasing at the same rate. Although awareness at individual level is a must, effective international laws need to be formulated for control of water pollution. These laws should not only be mentioned in papers, but should also be effectively adopted and enacted by each and every nation of the world.
Water wastage has now become a major problem. Strategies for promotion of water efficiency can add up a bit for solution. Recently concept of “Green Infrastructure” has evolved as a initiative solution of water pollution. Effective strategies that will protect future generations from water crises are to be promoted. Proper management of Disposal of sewage and other chemical waste from large cities will help to reduce the pollution. Recent concepts of 3R, 4R and 5R for management of solid waste can be effective as a solution.
For control of water pollution, Clean Water Act has be established. Our primary focus needs to be directed on advocating the effectiveness of this act on every waterways, wetlands headwater streams, etc. Preservation of clean water resources is a necessity of today’s time. Proper care of our ‘thirsty’ water by control of water pollution is not only for us alone, but also for better health and quality of life for our offsprings that will dwell on earth. Hand to hand collaboration is evident. Our thirsty water needs us; humans are those who help at the time of need and we need to ‘quench the thirst’ of our water by controlling this chaos of water pollution.
ashishniraula