Water Pollution: Affected Sources And Their Plight

Water pollution is a pressing issue that affects millions of people worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines polluted water as water that has been altered to the point of becoming unusable, and the United Nations (UN) reports that one in every three people on the planet is affected by it. Water pollution is caused by a variety of human activities, such as industrial waste, sewage and wastewater, oil leaks and spills, agricultural runoff, and radioactive waste. These sources of pollution contaminate our rivers, lakes, seas, and groundwater with harmful chemicals, bacteria, and other pollutants, degrading water quality and rendering it toxic or unusable for essential purposes. The effects of water pollution are far-reaching, impacting human health, the environment, and the economy. Therefore, it is crucial to address this issue through proper water treatment policies and management to protect this valuable resource.

Industrial waste and oil pollution

Industrial Waste

Industrial waste refers to the by-products of industrial activities, such as manufacturing, factories, mills, and mining operations. This waste can take on solid, semi-solid, or liquid forms and includes a range of materials such as dirt, gravel, scrap metal, oil, solvents, and chemicals. It can be further classified into hazardous and non-hazardous waste, with hazardous waste being toxic, ignitable, corrosive, or reactive.

Industrial waste has been an ongoing issue since the Industrial Revolution, and the amount of hazardous waste generated by manufacturing industries has significantly increased over the years. In the United States, it rose from an estimated 4.5 million tons annually after World War II to approximately 265 million tons by 1990. This waste is generated at every stage of the product life cycle, from production to use and disposal.

Improper management of industrial waste can have detrimental consequences for the environment and human health. It can contaminate nearby soil, groundwater, lakes, streams, rivers, and coastal waters. The release of toxic chemicals and pollutants from industries into water bodies can have severe impacts on aquatic life and the health of those who depend on these waters for food or drinking. It can kill marine life, alter food chain compositions, reduce biodiversity, and create "dead zones" where oxygen levels are too low to support aquatic organisms.

Oil Pollution

Oil pollution is another significant issue affecting water sources. While large oil spills often make headlines, it is important to note that consumer vehicles, such as cars and trucks, contribute the most to oil pollution in our seas. Oil drips from vehicles and parking lots, and runoff from roads and parking lots, are significant sources of oil pollution in water bodies. Additionally, factories, farms, and cities are major land-based sources of oil pollution, contributing to the estimated 1 million tons of oil that enters marine environments each year.

Oil pollution has devastating impacts on aquatic ecosystems. It harms aquatic life, damages recreational areas, and creates oil slicks that move towards shorelines. Oil spills can strand and kill various marine species, and the cleanup process can be lengthy and challenging.

Sewage and wastewater

According to the United Nations, more than 80% of the world's wastewater is discharged back into the environment without proper treatment. This untreated wastewater is a major source of pollution, as it reintroduces contaminants into water sources. In the United States, wastewater treatment facilities process approximately 34 billion gallons of wastewater per day. These facilities work to remove pollutants such as pathogens, phosphorus, nitrogen, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals before releasing the treated water back into waterways.

However, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that ageing and overburdened sewage treatment systems in the country still release over 850 billion gallons of untreated wastewater annually. This untreated wastewater can have severe consequences for human health and the environment. Waterborne pathogens, for example, can cause diseases such as cholera, giardia, and typhoid.

The impact of sewage and wastewater pollution is not limited to the United States. In developing countries, particularly in urban areas with limited resources, a large proportion of wastewater goes untreated and is discharged directly into nearby drainage channels or water bodies. This exposes household effluent, human waste, toxic chemicals, and medical waste to the environment, often in densely populated residential areas.

The issue of sewage and wastewater pollution underscores the importance of proper wastewater management and treatment. By investing in improved wastewater treatment infrastructure and technologies, communities can reduce the amount of pollutants released into water sources and mitigate the negative impacts on human health and the environment.

Radioactive substances

Radioactivity is the phenomenon of spontaneous emission of particles or waves from the unstable nuclei of some elements. There are three types of radioactive emissions: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. Alpha particles are positively charged helium atoms, beta particles are negatively charged electrons, and gamma rays are neutral electromagnetic radiations. Radioactive elements are naturally found in the earth's crust.

Radioactive contamination of water can occur through the percolation of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) from soil sediments to the aquifer. In anthropogenic sources of radioactive pollution, nuclear weapon investigation, nuclear calamities, nuclear power plants, and dumping of radioactive waste are major sources of contamination. The application of radioactive elements in nuclear weapons, X-rays, MRI, and other medical equipment also contributes to water pollution when the resulting waste is dumped into surface water bodies.

Nuclear reactors and nuclear warhead experiments are key sources of human-induced radionuclide discharge. Nuclear reactors produce radioisotopes such as Cobalt-60 and Iridium-192, which are used as sources of gamma radiation in radiotherapy and industrial applications. Additionally, nuclear reactors produce radioactive waste, including Strontium-90 and Caesium-137.

Radioactive pollution of water can also occur due to mining activities of radioactive elements like uranium and thorium, which can pollute surface and groundwater. Oceans and seas are natural repositories of uranium, which is found in the form of uranyl carbonate ions. Nuclear power plants located in coastal regions can further contribute to radiological contaminants in marine water by releasing atomic waste and using water as a coolant, which also becomes contaminated.

Public drinking water systems are responsible for testing and filtering out contaminants, including radionuclides, to ensure that the water meets all federal, state, and local drinking water standards. Minute traces of radioactivity are typically found in all drinking water, and the concentration and composition of these radioactive constituents can vary depending on the radiochemical composition of the soil and rock strata through which the raw water passes.

Radioactive contamination of drinking water can have serious health risks. High doses of radiation can cause acute radiation syndrome or cutaneous radiation injury. Exposure to radiation has been linked to various disorders in human physiology, including cancer, leukaemia, genetic mutations, osteonecrosis, cataracts, and chromosomal disruption.

To address radioactive pollution in water, proper analysis and monitoring of radioactive pollutants are necessary to ensure a safe water supply. Prevention and precaution measures can help control anthropogenic sources of radioactive contamination in water resources. Various treatment methods, such as aeration, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and granular carbon adsorption, are effective remedial measures for treating radioactive contaminated water.

Plastic pollution

Plastic is a synthetic, organic polymer derived from fossil fuels. It is a durable and lightweight material that has been used in a wide range of applications, from transportation to medicine. However, the convenience of plastics has led to a throw-away culture, with single-use plastics accounting for 40-50% of the plastic produced every year. These products have a short lifespan but can persist in the environment for hundreds of years, breaking down into microplastics and nanoplastics.

The majority of plastic pollution in the ocean comes from land-based sources, including littering, construction, industrial activities, and stormwater runoff. It is estimated that 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year, making up 80% of all marine pollution. The impact of this pollution on marine life is devastating, with at least 267 species worldwide affected, including 86% of all sea turtle species, 44% of all seabird species, and 43% of all marine mammal species. The ingestion of plastic, entanglement, and suffocation are common causes of fatalities among these species.

In addition to the harm caused to marine life, plastic pollution also poses a significant threat to human health. Microplastics have been found in drinking water, food, and even human blood and organs. The chemicals used in plastic production are known to be carcinogenic and can cause developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune disorders. The economic costs of plastic in the ocean are also significant, estimated at $6-19 billion USD annually, impacting tourism, fisheries, and aquaculture.

Despite the efforts of some governments to limit or ban the use of certain single-use plastics, the problem of plastic pollution continues to grow. By 2050, plastic is predicted to outweigh all fish in the sea, and production is expected to double. To address this crisis, a global treaty is needed to reduce plastic production, improve waste management systems, and increase recycling efforts.

Pesticide and fertiliser runoff

Agricultural activities are a major source of fertiliser and pesticide runoff. In the United States, agricultural pollution is the top source of contamination in rivers and streams, the second-biggest source in wetlands, and the third main source in lakes. It is also a significant contributor to groundwater and estuary contamination. When it rains, fertilisers, pesticides, and animal waste from farms wash into waterways, causing nutrient pollution. This type of pollution is the number-one threat to water quality worldwide and can lead to toxic algal blooms that are harmful to both people and wildlife.

Pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides used in agriculture can also contaminate water through direct application, atmospheric deposition, and runoff. These chemicals can poison wildlife and fish, destroy habitats, and contaminate food sources. Additionally, inefficient irrigation practices can lead to water quality issues, such as the transportation of pesticides, nutrients, and heavy metals, and a decrease in the amount of water flowing in rivers and streams.

Farmers can adopt several practices to reduce pesticide and fertiliser runoff, such as implementing nutrient management techniques, using conservation drainage practices, ensuring year-round ground cover, planting field buffers, and implementing conservation tillage. These practices can help improve nutrient management, reduce nutrient losses, and minimise the impact of agricultural activities on water quality.

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