[Title image: Image by Emilian Robert Vicol from Pixabay]
Water pollution is a growing global issue that needs to be immediately addressed. As toxic chemicals, heavy metals and non-organic materials continue to contaminate our waters, the health of the planet and its inhabitants will be under persistent threat of disease, illness, and detrimental changes to the environment.
So, what can be done to tackle water pollution?
Firstly, we have to see the ‘big picture’ when it comes to who is polluting our waters. Large-scale industrial activity and highly populated residential areas are the largest contributors of pollutants, with around 80% of untreated urban wastewater being discharged into water bodies each year. This requires solutions ranging from small-scale changes at home, to large-scale changes in how industries operate.
To tackle such a pressing issue, we’ve compiled a list of ways in which we can begin to reduce the effects of water pollution. Whether it’s a minor change in your daily routine, or a larger-step towards implementing more stringent regulations, any and every effort to confront this issue will contribute to a cleaner future for our waters.
The Rise of Water Pollution
Water pollution is no stranger to us, yet for decades the issue of contaminated waters lay dormant when addressing environmental issues. The rise of industrial activity, encouraged by globalisation and constant demand for products has drastically increased the number of dangerous contaminants and pollutants entering water supplies.
To give you a better idea of how these industries are responsible for the decline in our water's health, these are the three largest contributors to water pollution.
Industrial Waste
Large-scale industries such as mining, fracking, and clothing factories produce high amounts of non-organic, toxic chemicals that are either released or meander to water bodies. 70% of industrial waste is dumped into watersheds and left untreated. Flooding or improper storage of this water causes it to flow out to nearby rivers, streams, and reservoirs resulting in chemical pollution and can contaminate drinking water.
Agricultural Runoff
Agricultural runoff is not a well-known pollutant, yet is one of the largest contributors to water pollution. Agricultural practices produce high quantities of pesticides, fertilisers, and animal waste which ‘runs-off’ into rivers, lakes, and drinking water wells. The presence of these harmful chemicals create a multitude of issues, including infected water supplies, and threatening entire ecosystems due to the overwhelming growth of algae blooms.
Plastic Pollution
Plastic pollution is the most widely-known form of pollution due to the visible harm it has on the marine environment, yet only in the last few years have we begun to realise the health-risks that occur from the toxic chemicals produced by plastic. Over 8 million tons of plastic is discharged into the ocean each year, devastating the natural ecosystems and creating an entirely inhospitable environment for both humans and animals, as millions - if not billions - of microplastic particles are consumed worldwide.
The Dangerous Effects of Water Pollution
For many decades now, water pollution has been a major contributor to the decline of health in certain countries and communities who have access to poorly maintained or unsanitary drinking water sources. However, with the growing presence of persistent and dangerous chemicals, heavy metals and illegal industrial activity, it’s now become a global concern as the dangerous effects of water pollution spread across the planet, contaminating previously clean water systems and infecting important bodies of water.
Previously ‘safe’ communities are now at risk of a number of diseases and illness, as well as the on-going, ever-growing risks to the environment, marine life and animals that inhabit it.
Human Health
Polluted water affects human health in a multitude of ways. Whether it be short-term illnesses like diarrhoea and stomach viruses, or long-term, chronic illnesses such as cancer and gastrointestinal issues, these disturbances in our health are caused by a number of heavy metals and chemicals in the water supply.
A build up of certain heavy metals will attack the liver and kidneys over time, and the constant flow of pesticides and fertilisers in our waters can damage our endocrine system, creating a multitude of hormonal issues and even lead to developmental disorders. If the current rate of pollutants entering our waters continues, there will be a continuous rise in water-related illnesses amongst humans.
Aquatic Health
Aquatic wildlife faces a similar fate when in contact with contaminated water. Ecosystems are pushed to the brink as harmful chemicals like motor oil, plastics and solid waste (faecal matter) infect their waters, depleting oxygen levels, disrupting the food chain, and introducing a number of diseases such as fin rot, fish lice, and reproductive issues.
As aquatic life becomes more susceptible to sickness and disease, we will see major changes in the environment and its natural order. Species will be threatened by depleting numbers, water bodies will turn toxic and be unable to support life, and rivers and streams will no longer be able to maintain their natural pH balance, resulting in undrinkable and untreatable bodies of water.
Ways to Prevent and Reduce Water Pollution
Combating water pollution is no easy feat, but is made possible by collective efforts. Whether it be making small changes at home, or banding together to hold industries accountable for their actions, here is a list to help anyone start the journey towards a planet with cleaner water.
Improved Waste Management
Although this requires government intervention, it’s a vital step in the right direction. By demanding newer, stricter regulations around waste management and storage we can begin to reduce one of the largest contributors to water pollution.
It may seem a daunting task, but collectively we can hold these industries accountable by contacting our local MP’s, petitioning for better regulations, and publicly demanding for a long-overdue change for this dangerous industrial practice.
Promote Sustainable Agriculture
By promoting organic farming methods and reducing the use of harmful pesticides and fertilisers, our waters will become safer to consume and support aquatic life. This starts by implementing proper irrigation techniques to reduce agricultural runoff, and pushing for cleaner, less-harmful agricultural chemicals that don’t compromise our health.
You can also opt for ‘greener’ groceries, choosing to purchase and consume meat and produce that use safer methods and promote a cleaner, more sustainable way of farming.
Buy Fish-Friendly Food
The global effects of industrial livestock farming is known to many, however, little is known about the devastating effects that fish-farming has on aquatic life and the health of the water. Industrial fish farms are riddled with disease and illness and cause serious harm to the natural aquatic environment.
By choosing to shop for organic, line-caught, non-fish farmed produce, we can begin to take the stress out of our oceans and away from aggressive farming methods and move toward cleaner, safer practices that benefit both human and aquatic life.
Reduce Single-Use Plastics
The heavy use of plastics and single-use plastics are slowly destroying our waters. From contaminating our waters and harming wildlife, to creating an array of health conditions from consuming microplastic particles, plastic waste poses one of the largest threats to our environment.
By reducing your plastic use we can begin to decrease the quantity of this pollutant. Use your own shopping bags instead of using plastic ones, avoid single-use plates, cutlery, plastic containers and even e-cigarettes, opt for sustainable packaging such as wax paper instead of cling-film, and swap your usual disposable coffee cup for a thermos or reusable (and even better, recycled) cup or flask.
Reduce The Use of Household Chemicals
Only now are we beginning to understand the harmful chemicals in our regular household items. The use of bleach, chlorine and artificial scents can cause skin irritation resulting in eczema, rashes and respiratory problems. As these cleaning chemicals make their way to water they cause even more havoc in the aquatic world, creating chemical imbalances as well as an array of hormone and immune-related illnesses.
Swap your run-of-the-mill products for non-toxic cleaners with few synthetic chemicals, or better yet, make your own from biological products. However, if making your own products isn’t for you, just be extra careful to read the label when purchasing cleaning products and avoid any that include bleach, ammonia, and sodium hypochlorite.
Disposal of Medicines
Whether it's a strip of pills or liquid medicine, each year vast amounts of pharmaceuticals are flushed down the toilet or sink when they’re no longer needed. Medicines are made up of a series of complex chemicals, with many including hormones and possibly harmful chemicals. When these medicines are flushed, they can make their way to drinking water and result in poisoning or sickness for both humans and wildlife.
When disposing of medications, the best way is to return them to your local pharmacy. Even if the medication wasn’t prescribed there they will happily accept the return and dispose of them accordingly. Avoid throwing them in the trash as if these medications end up in a landfill that sits close to water there is a risk of contamination or land animals consuming them.
Disposal of Oil
We all know the risks of pouring oil down our sinks, but what's less known are the risks of improperly disposing of oils and chemicals such as antifreeze and motor oil. If you dispose of these chemicals down a storm drain or down an outdoor sink, the highly toxic chemicals in these products will cause serious damage to the wildlife, either from consuming the toxins in the water, or disrupting ecosystems due to oil covering the surface water.
To ensure the proper disposal of these chemicals, take them to a chemical disposal site or recycling centre that accepts waste chemicals. Make sure to inform them what it is you’re disposing of by writing its name clearly after storing it in a metal or thick plastic container. If you’re unsure of how to properly dispose of motor oil, please see this helpful wikiHow article.
Be Careful What You Flush
We’re generally more conscientious of what we flush down the toilet to avoid blocking drains, yet the consequences of flushing non-organic matter down the toilet is far more detrimental to our public waters than it is to our plumbing.
Avoid depositing household cleaning items (such as water from the mop bucket), sanitary products, contraceptives, and even excess toilet paper to reduce contaminated water. Whether it be discharge of toxic chemicals or solid waste that blocks up smaller bodies of water, the more we can reduce the amount of non-organic materials entering our waterways, the better chance we have of reducing water pollution.
Wear Environmentally Friendly Clothing
The clothing industry is already known for its controversial practices, yet little is truly known about how much this industry contributes to water pollution. Extensive use of synthetic materials and plastics pollute the waters with toxic chemicals, and mass amounts of water are used to create garments. For example, approximately 10,000 to 20,000 litres of water is used to produce one kilogram of cotton.
By choosing for more environmentally conscious brands and avoiding ‘fast-fashion’, we can begin to reduce not only the amount of water being used - and potentially wasted - but decrease the amount of water being contaminated by hormone-disruptive plastics.
Conserve Water
Water conservation is something we can incorporate into our daily lives. Whether it be closing the tap whilst brushing our teeth, turning off the shower in between rinsing, or washing the dishes in a sink of water instead of a running tap, every small change to save a few litres of water here and there can exponentially improve the amount of water saved each year.
Better yet, it’s also a financially conscious decision to make, and the less water you use will reflect in your water bills. Saving water will save you money!
Encourage Green Infrastructure
The creation of green spaces has been on the rise over the last decade. Citizens of built-up areas are seeking inner-city hideouts where they can relax and reflect in a natural environment. With this infrastructure in mind, we can also begin to create water-friendly environments that help to not only reduce pollution, but encourage the well-being of aquatic life.
By planting trees along riverbanks and creating green-only spaces, we can protect bodies of water from contamination caused by runoff, chemical dumping, and industrial activity.
Push For Better Regulation
If we wish to see a brighter future for our waters, then collective action must be taken to ensure stricter regulations are applied and maintained for larger industries. By pressuring and petitioning for organisations such as the Environmental Protection Agency to hold industries accountable, we can begin to reduce the overwhelming amount of pollutants entering our waters.
The incentivisation of more sustainable practices is also a great place to start. Schemes such as ‘bike to work’ was successful in motivating people to curb air pollution, so the creation of more water-friendly schemes that encourages people to reduce water-polluting practices, as well as become more aware of the gravity of the current state of the environment, would greatly benefit the planet and all its inhabitants.
There Is Still More To Be Done…
To reduce water pollution we need to act now. This requires a multifaceted approach, calling the help of individuals, communities, governments and industries to become aware of the direction that our waters are heading in. The current state of water pollution is driving the planet in a dangerous direction, and the future of our waters are tainted with the prospect of being so toxic that they’re unable to support life.
By making small changes we can create a ripple-effect that not only encourages good-practice but ensures the cleanliness and protection of our waters so that future generations can still access this precious resource.