Water Pollution _ Causes, effects and solution

[Zaineb Warrich]

Water pollution, like other types of pollution result when an overwhelming amount of waste comes from different sources of pollutant which harmfully disrupts the balance of the ecosystem; consequently, the waste cannot be destroyed or cleaned up as quickly as produced which results in many disadvantageous to humans and animals, as well as other living organisms. Therefore individuals have to realize that water pollutants can lead to long term effects and sometimes death due to the water pollution. The source of the pollutant can end but the long term effects for animal, humans and plant life can last years and even centuries, sometime totally destroying a species. All humans and animals as well as some organisms depend on water to survive. Each person must do everything possible to keep our water clean and available. In most cases the water becomes unusable because of oil, chemical waste, sewage, waste water and plastics.

Oil and chemical waste are two major sources of pollution and hazards waste. Petroleum products are one of the most toxic substances to the ecosystem. Oil and chemical waste comes to the water usually by accidental spills from ships, tankers, pipelines, and leaking underground storage tanks. There is no doubt that oil and chemical products are poisonous to the inhabitants of the seas, lakes, oceans, or water storage sites. The worst disaster which the American people and all the other countries can have witness to is happening at this very time. It has been declared the worse disaster to hit the world and is the leaking of more than “176 million gallons of oil in the gulf of Mexico.” (Brian Smith) This is not also the worst case disaster but also the most expensive one which will go on for years and continue to cost billions of dollars.

This accidental disaster has killed hundreds of animals and birds as well as plant life. Millions of dollars in lost income to the business along the coast. Millions of Americans are breathing contaminated air resulting from the evaporation of oil. Moreover, the spilled oil can damage a birds feathers and the fur of animals and in most cases will result in death unless cleans and bathed with detergent right away. Milton Marie explains “the oil attract to fish because it look like floating food; this is dangerous for the sea birds which are attracted to schools of fish and may dive through oil slicks to get to the fish.”. Similarly, in articles “Oil Spills,” Cooper Mary states that “the first obvious victims are birds and other aquatic wildlife that live along the shoreline. Birds cannot distinguish between clean water and an oil slick.”

The water is also being polluted by plastics and other plastic like substances, such as nylon, plastic bags and plastic bottles. According to Food and Water Watch, “bottle water produce up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year and that plastic requires up to 47 million gallons of oil per year to produce.” Moreover the problem, Baskind Chris reports, is that “this oil [used is] enough to keep a million cars going for a month.” It is well known that the plastic bag can be recycled, but only two of every ten goes to the recycle center and the other go directly to the trash. Beside that, plastic bags are difficult and costly to recycle and need hundred years to photo degrade. Hence, they breakdown into tiny toxic particles and contaminate the soil and water, and then enter the food chain. This can be seen in, a broken plastic bottle or bag can be eaten by animals and may even result in loss of their life since the plastic is non biodegradable and will not break down in the environment. Also nylon or floating plastic bags can attach to fish and other marine animals, for example the Royal terns, a species of sea birds; dive from the air into the water to catch fish with their sharp beaks can be entangled in the plastic. (Baskind Chris)

Pesticides and herbicides used in the killing of unwanted animals and plants have toxins such as lead, mercury and nitrate, etc; these chemicals may enter the lakes and rivers through the sewage system or through the dumping of toxics by the large factories or can be collected by rain and will eventually drain into the rivers, lakes and oceans. When animals drink water or eat plants which have been sprayed with toxin chemicals they can lose their lives. Much research has been done and was concluded that more than ten million people in the united states alone drink water which contains pesticide and causes death in children as well as adults when drinking water which contains nitrates. “Many diseases caused by water contamination go un-noticed because the effect takes months or even years to materialize,” Elizabeth Humphreys observes. (Humphreys Elizabeth)
In conclusion, it is clear to everyone the problems associated with water pollution. It not only has an effect on flora, fauna and other living things in the short term but has long lasting effects that can take years or centuries to clean up. Many countries have laws to protect the environment and limit water pollution, but that is not enough to solve the many problems. People living on this planet have to be responsible and get involved in keeping our water supply fresh and clean. They must be familiar with water sources and learn how to keep them clean. Deposing of industrial waste and household waste, should be done in the proper manner to assure no harm to environment is done. In agricultural and garden have to know the right time to add nutrients or fertilizers; thus avoiding over feeding and this would help keep the chemicals from our water source. Choosing to use non disposal bags instead of plastic is another way to keep plastic out of our water and disposal sites. Everyone needs to be more concerned with our water supply and products that can threaten it. They all must realize water is their source of life and it needs to be conserved and protected.