Lifestyle Choices: Impacting Water Pollution

Water pollution is a pressing issue that poses a direct threat to human health and the environment. It occurs when harmful substances, such as chemicals and microorganisms, contaminate bodies of water, rendering them toxic and unfit for human consumption. Lifestyle choices and habits play a significant role in contributing to water pollution. For instance, the use of pesticides in agriculture allows these chemicals to seep into underground water channels, eventually reaching water networks that supply our homes. Similarly, the improper disposal of waste, including plastics and garbage, leads to the contamination of oceans and other water bodies. Oil spills and leaks from industrial activities or transportation also have detrimental effects on marine life and water quality. With growing concerns over water scarcity and pollution, it is essential to address the impact of our lifestyles on water pollution and take collective action towards sustainable water management.

Sewage and wastewater

Wastewater can come from various sources, including domestic use (such as toilets, sinks, and showers), commercial, agricultural, and industrial activities. It also includes stormwater runoff, which occurs when rainwater washes oil, grease, road salt, debris, and chemicals into waterways. The agricultural industry, in particular, contributes to water pollution through rainwater that washes pollutants like fertilizers, animal waste, and pesticides into waterways, leading to the contamination of water sources.

The consequences of untreated wastewater are severe and far-reaching. It can lead to habitat loss, extinction, and the introduction of toxic substances into marine ecosystems. This, in turn, can result in closed beaches, collapsed fisheries, and algal blooms that suffocate aquatic life. Additionally, wastewater pollution has been linked to seagrass die-offs, weakened coral reefs, and the destabilization of entire ecosystems.

The impact of sewage and wastewater pollution on human health is also significant. Untreated wastewater can contain harmful bacteria and viruses, leading to waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and hepatitis A. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.7 billion people use drinking water sources contaminated with faecal matter, which can have severe health consequences.

Furthermore, sewage and wastewater pollution contribute to the global sanitation crisis, which poses a significant threat to human health. While this crisis has largely been addressed from a human-centric perspective, there is a growing recognition that its effects on ecosystem health cannot be ignored. The conservation and public health sectors must work together to address this issue effectively.

To mitigate the impact of sewage and wastewater on water pollution, it is crucial to prioritize proper wastewater treatment and management. This includes investing in wastewater treatment infrastructure and exploring innovative solutions, such as waste-free toilets and resource recovery to generate fuel and drinking water. By addressing this issue, we can protect both human health and the health of natural ecosystems.

Plastic and garbage

Plastics are particularly harmful as they can take hundreds of years to degrade, persisting in the environment long after they have been discarded. During this time, they can cause harm to both human and animal life. Fish and other marine life may mistake plastic for food, leading to their deaths. As plastic slowly breaks apart, it forms microplastics, which are small fragments of plastic less than 5mm in size. These microplastics can be ingested by marine life and are then passed up the food chain, eventually being consumed by humans.

The sources of plastic and garbage pollution entering water sources are varied. One source is debris falling off ships, such as overboard discharges and discarded fishing gear. Additionally, trash can be blown into the ocean from landfills, or swept into the sea via rivers when people discard used items such as food packages. This river-borne plastic often comes from streets during heavy rain, entering rivers through storm drains and sewer overflows. Once in the water, plastic can be transported around the world by ocean currents, affecting marine life even in remote locations.

The impact of plastic and garbage pollution on marine life is significant. It has impacted at least 267 species worldwide, including a large percentage of sea turtle, seabird, and marine mammal species. The effects include fatalities, ingestion, starvation, suffocation, infection, drowning, and entanglement. For example, in 2010, a California grey whale washed up dead with over 20 plastic bags, small towels, duct tape, and surgical gloves in its stomach.

To address plastic and garbage pollution, it is crucial to focus on prevention and proper waste management. This includes improving waste management systems, increasing recycling, and designing products with the short life of disposable packaging in mind. Additionally, reducing the manufacturing of unnecessary single-use plastics and promoting reusable alternatives can help decrease plastic waste. Public education and cleanup efforts are also important, but they must be accompanied by a reduction in the consumption of disposable products to effectively address the issue.

Oil pollution

Oil spills have devastating consequences for marine life. The oil coats the feathers and fur of birds and mammals, impairing their ability to repel water and insulate themselves from cold water, leaving them susceptible to hypothermia. It can also smother fish, impair their growth and reproduction, and cause liver disease. Additionally, juvenile sea turtles can become entangled in oil and mistake it for food. Dolphins and whales are at risk of inhaling oil, which can have detrimental effects on their lungs, immune systems, and reproductive capabilities.

The impact of oil spills extends beyond the immediate vicinity of the spill. Currents, tides, and wind can carry the oil over vast distances, affecting vegetation, birds, and marine animals along the way. Oil spills can also result in the closure of beaches and harbours, disrupting fishing and hunting activities, which is particularly detrimental to communities that rely on these sources for sustenance.

It's worth noting that not all oil pollution is anthropogenic. There are about 200 natural underwater oil seeps identified globally, like Coal Oil Point off the California coast, which releases thousands of litres of crude oil daily.

Addressing oil pollution requires a multifaceted approach. International treaties, such as the MARPOL convention, have been implemented to strengthen regulations on oil tank vessels and operators. Additionally, technological advancements like double hulls on ships provide an extra protective barrier. Public awareness about the importance of proper disposal of oil, paint, and hazardous chemicals is also crucial, as these substances can enter water sources through storm drains if not handled correctly.

Radioactive waste

There are several ways to treat radioactive wastewater, including:

• Ion exchange: This method uses ions on an ion exchanger to separate and extract specific ions from the wastewater.
• Chemical precipitation: This method co-precipitates the precipitant and the radionuclides in the waste liquid, reducing the specific activity of the wastewater.
• Evaporative concentration: This method heats the radioactive waste liquid to evaporate the water, which is then cooled to form condensed water. The non-volatile radionuclides remain in the water and are then separated and undergo subsequent solidification treatment.
• Adsorption: This method uses porous adsorbent materials to remove radionuclides from the waste liquid.
• Membrane separation: This method uses membranes with selective separation to purify, concentrate, and separate the wastewater.
• Photocatalysis: This method uses solar energy to convert chemical energy in the presence of a photocatalyst, which can then chemically change the reactant.

The treatment of radioactive wastewater aims to eliminate its threats to the environment and human health and minimise the psychological burden brought by radioactivity.

Fracking

Firstly, if the borehole is not properly cased to stop leaks, the fracking water can escape into the aquifer. This happened frequently in the early days of fracking in the USA. Secondly, contamination can occur if frackers drill horizontally too close to water-bearing rocks. This is now considered bad practice but was also common in the USA. As a result, some areas have complained about high levels of the carcinogen benzene in their underground water supplies. A third possibility of contamination occurs where the drill hole goes through the water-bearing rock.

When the water, which is mixed with chemicals and sand for the fracking process, comes back to the surface, it can be contaminated with heavy metals and radioactivity. This wastewater needs to be contained in tanks before being disposed of or cleaned up to be reused for fracking.

There is now evidence that fracking has polluted groundwater in Wyoming. A peer-reviewed study by former EPA scientist Dominic DiGiulio found that people's water wells in Pavillion, Wyoming, were contaminated with fracking wastes that are typically stored in unlined pits in the ground. The study also suggested that the entire groundwater resource in the Wind River Basin is contaminated with chemicals linked to fracking.

A separate study in Pennsylvania found that drilling near an infant's public water source was associated with poorer birth outcomes and more fracking-related contaminants in public drinking water. Specifically, every new well drilled within one kilometre of a public drinking water source was associated with an 11-13% increase in the incidence of preterm births and low birth weight in infants exposed during gestation.

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