Introduction
Water pollution is a major global issue in both developing and developed countries. In 2020, over half of the U.S. lakes and rivers breached the environmental standards, and American drinking water comes from 4-28% of sources that infringe the health standards (Sharma et al. 5). Annually, over 16 million US citizens suffer gastrointestinal diseases due to drinking contaminated water. The U.S. government spends over $4.8 trillion, 0.8% of the total GDP, cleaning up surface water pollution and ensuring safe drinking water for all its citizens (Keiser and Shapiro 52). However, each US national spends an average of $60 annually on bottled water (Keiser and Shapiro 52). This study will evaluate the main causes of water pollution, the effects on humans health, and how to mitigate them.
Causes of Water Pollution
One of the main causes of water pollution is sewage. Untreated or partially treated sewage disposal into water sources is the most common form of water contamination. Although there have been efforts to use more biological and technological methods to treat sewage, water pollution is still a prevalent issue. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the recommended sewage effluent should have biochemical oxygen demand of 20 p.p.m or lower and suspended solids of less than 30 p.p.m (Klein 112). However, most companies and other sewage sources cannot meet these thresholds. For instance, coal mining areas have been unable to meet these standards due to defects such as fractures in their pipes, tanks, or sewers, which cause mass water contamination.
The other cause of water contamination is discharge from trade wastes. People in a densely populated region are likely to excrete too much trade waste, and if not well disposed of, it may affect water sources such as rivers and lakes (Klein 114). In densely populated areas such as South East Michigan, some rivers famous for fishing, such as the Rogue River, are now dead and cannot support vegetable or animal life. If the water sources are not large enough to dilute the effluent during heavy storm overflow, all the waste transferred into the rivers or lakes may become a major pollutant.
Industries contribute significantly to water pollution. They discharge different pollutants into the environment either directly or indirectly. The manufacturiong industry, which ues too much chemical, is an essential contributor to water contaminaton (Mitiku 96). These activities lead to the generation of waste with varying organic and inorganic components, which are carcinogenic, toxic, and non-biodegradable. When this waste gets into the water sources, it contaminates them and makes the water unhealthy for human consumption and sometimes unable to support aquatic life.
While using manure and other agricultural products helps boost crop productivity, it still has detrimental effects on water sources. The application of manure and fertilizers pollute both surface and underground water (Mitiku 95). Most fertilizers nowadays are manufactured using high levels of metal content to boost the nutrients in the crops; however, this metal concentration is dangerous because it is often swept off into the nearest water sources or reserves. Other agricultural pollutants include highly toxic pesticides and the water runoff from farming fields into streams.
Oil spills are another factor leading to water pollution, especially in the oceans. When big spills hit the headlines, it is always an indication that massive water pollution has happened in the seas or oceans. In 2021, there were six tanker oil spills, with more than 700 metric tons of oil being spilled in the sea (Denchak). However, these are not the only type of oil pollution that occurs as tons of oil drip daily from millions of cars. This oil either spills into the ground or is carried by running water during rainy seasons into the rivers, lakes, or other water reservoirs, polluting the water. More than a million tons of oil in other marine environments comes from land-based sources such as factories, cities, and farms. Additionally, seeps from under the sea also release oil naturally, which shows that water pollution is not only from man-made forms.
Effects of Water Pollution on Human Health
Water pollution has been associated with various health problems such as Diarrhea, Cholera, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, and Dysentery. Various microbial chemicals can pollute water and make it unhealthy for human consumption. These may include pathogens, human care products and nitrates. 10% of the world’s population consumes food that is grown in contaminated areas (Mitiku 95). Poor people are more exposed to health problems that are related to water contamination.
Polluted water can lead to bacterial diseases. Drinking untreated water is the main cause of diarrhea. Headache, abdominal pain, nausea, and fever are diarrhea symptoms and are commonly spread by Campylobacter jejuni bacteria. Another bacterial disease caused by polluted water is Cholera. Cholera is caused by a bacteria called Vibrio Cholerae, which releases toxins in the digestive tract. According to the World Health Organization, there are 1.3 to 4 million cases of Cholera every year and up to 143,000 deaths related to the disease (Denchak). The Shigella bacteria cause shigellosis by damaging the intestinal lining. This shows that polluted water may have devastating health effects, especially in developing countries.
Polluted waste can as well lead to viral diseases. For instance, contaminated water can cause Hepatitis, a viral disease. Its main symptoms are discomfort, loss of appetite, fever, and fatigue, and if not treated for a long time, it can lead to death (Haseena et al. 17). There are vaccines for Hepatitis, and adopting good hygienic standards can eliminate the disease. Another viral disease is Encephalitis, caused by mosquito bites and contaminated water where they lay their eggs (Haseena et al. 17). Although the disease does not show any symptoms, it may cause paralysis or severe coma. Poliomyelitis is caused by a virus known as poliomyelitis, and although a vaccine is available, this disease is dangerous when it attacks a young child or disabled person.
Some parasitic diseases may originate from polluted water. For instance, cryptosporidiosis is a disease that affects people worldwide and is caused by a parasite known as cryptosporidium parvum. This disease causes diarrhea and is resistant to disinfection, making it a killer disease. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 4 million people are infected with diarrhea annually, while 2 million people die from diarrhea-related illnesses (Haseena et al. 18). This shows that diseases related to water pollution are prevalent healthcare problems, especially in developing countries.
How to Mitigate Water Pollution
One of the methods of avoiding water contamination is monitoring water distribution systems. Sometimes drinking water can be pumped from a safe environment with no bacteria detected in it, and it is infected when it reaches the consumer. This shows that the water distribution system is where the water gets contaminated in most cases. The water distribution systems should be flushed and disinfected after a specific time to remove the sediments and debris in the pipes (Klein 134). Additionally, conducting random laboratory analysis can help ascertain that the water for human consumption is safe.
Another method of treating water for human consumption is the herbal disinfection of water. This method is used mostly in rural areas where modern treatment of water is not affordable. For instance, alcoholic extract can be used by communities who use well water while those close to lakes can use aqueous (Klein 128). Neem (Azadirachta indica), tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), and amla are herbs that are used in treating microbial infections and they do not have any side effects; they can be used in the treatment of water.
Conclusion
Government policy can be used to reduce water pollution. For instance, US EPA has created various regulations which direct how companies and markets should dispose of their waste to avoid contaminating the water around them (Klein 127). According to the laws, water pollution should be treated from the source if feasible. The government should come up with more strict rules and enforcement agencies to ensure that factories do not pollute rivers. US EPA has regulated the amount of sediment that should be in company waste before it is disposed of and the chemical composition. However, they should be stricter in implementing the policies to ensure that the companies do not break them.
Works Cited
Denchak, Melissa. “Water Pollution: Everything You Need to Know.” NRDC, 2022.
Haseena, Mehtab, et al. “Water Pollution and Human Health.” Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation, vol. 01, no. 03, 2017, pp. 16–19.
Keiser, David A., and Joseph S. Shapiro. “US Water Pollution Regulation over the Past Half-Century: Burning Waters to Crystal Springs?” Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 33, no. 4, 2019, pp. 51–75.
Klein, Louis. “Causes and Effects: River Pollution.” Google Books, Revised, Elsevier, 2017, pp. 1–470.
Mitiku, Abambagade Abera. “(PDF) Water Pollution: Causes and Prevention.” ResearchGate, 2020.
Sharma, Rohit, et al. “Analysis of Water Pollution Using Different Physicochemical Parameters: A Study of Yamuna River.” Frontiers in Environmental Science, vol. 8, 2020, pp. 1–18.