Bronte Wells
Water is essential for human life, but freshwater—the water we drink, bathe in, and irrigate our farm fields with—is incredibly rare. Only 2.5% to 3% of the world's water is freshwater, and two-thirds of that is tucked away in frozen glaciers or otherwise unavailable for our use. As a result, some 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water, and a total of 2.7 billion find water scarce for at least one month of the year. Freshwater sources are vulnerable to pollution from a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, industry, and wastewater treatment plants. This widespread problem of water pollution jeopardizes human and wildlife health, with unsafe water killing more people each year than war and all other forms of violence combined.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of the world's freshwater that is available | 0.5% |
| Percentage of the world's freshwater that is unavailable | 2.5% |
| Percentage of people worldwide without access to safe drinking water | 33% |
| Percentage of rivers and streams in the US that are polluted | 50% |
| Percentage of lakes in the US that are polluted | 33% |
| Percentage of surface water bodies in Europe that have achieved good chemical status | 42% |
| Percentage of Europe's groundwater areas that have achieved good chemical status | 77% |
| Percentage of bodies of water surveyed that were severely polluted | 40% |
| The number of people at health risk due to scarce data on water quality | 3 billion |
| The sector that is the biggest consumer of global freshwater resources | Agriculture |
| The leading cause of water degradation | Agriculture |
| The main contributors to water pollution from agriculture | Phosphorous and nitrogen |
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What You'll Learn
Sources of freshwater pollution
Freshwater pollution is a serious environmental issue, with far-reaching consequences for ecosystems, human health, and industries that rely on water. The sources of freshwater pollution are diverse and numerous, and understanding them is crucial for implementing effective solutions. Here are the primary sources of freshwater pollution:
Industrial Activities
Industrial facilities are major contributors to freshwater pollution. They release untreated or partially treated wastewater containing various toxic substances, such as heavy metals, chemicals, and industrial wastes. In developing countries, it is common for untreated industrial waste to be directly dumped into freshwater bodies, rendering the water unsafe for drinking, swimming, and other purposes. Industrial emissions and discharges can contaminate nearby water sources, impacting both surface water and groundwater.
Agricultural Practices
Agricultural operations, including farming and livestock grazing, are significant sources of freshwater pollution. The indiscriminate use of agricultural fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals can lead to runoff that contaminates nearby water sources. Excessive application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers can result in nutrient pollution, causing harmful algal blooms and oxygen depletion in water bodies. Additionally, animal manure from livestock operations can contain disease-causing pathogens, further polluting water sources.
Wastewater and Sewage
Improper wastewater treatment and sewage disposal are significant contributors to freshwater pollution. Ineffective treatment processes can lead to the discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage into rivers, lakes, and groundwater. This introduces human waste, chemicals, and pathogens into freshwater ecosystems, posing risks to both environmental and human health.
Stormwater Runoff
Stormwater runoff is another source of freshwater pollution. When rain or snowmelt flows over surfaces such as roads, parking lots, and rooftops, it can pick up pollutants such as oil, grease, heavy metals, and fertilizers, carrying them directly into nearby water bodies. This can result in the contamination of rivers, streams, and lakes, particularly in urban areas with extensive impervious surfaces.
Mining Activities
Mining operations can also pollute freshwater sources through the release of toxic substances. The extraction and processing of minerals can generate large amounts of waste material, which, if not properly managed, can leach contaminants into nearby water sources. Additionally, the disruption of natural landscapes during mining can alter drainage patterns, affecting the quantity and quality of freshwater resources.
Other Sources
Freshwater pollution has multiple other sources as well, including urban runoff, ageing infrastructure, and improper waste disposal practices. Human activities such as deforestation, improper land use, and the discharge of domestic waste can also contribute to water pollution. Additionally, natural sources, such as volcanic eruptions and mineral deposits, can introduce pollutants into freshwater ecosystems.
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Pollution from agriculture
Agriculture is a major source of freshwater pollution. About 40% of the land in the United States is used for agriculture, and agricultural chemicals move through every component of the hydrologic system, including air, soil, soil water, streams, wetlands, and groundwater.
Agricultural nonpoint source pollution, or pollution via nutrient runoff, is the leading source of harm to water quality for surveyed rivers and streams, the third-largest for lakes, and the second-largest for wetlands. Each year, high levels of manure and fertiliser from the Mississippi River make their way into the Gulf of Mexico, creating a recurring "dead zone" thousands of miles wide. Similarly, nutrient runoff has decimated the Chesapeake Bay, killing large numbers of fish and shellfish. In recent years, algal blooms have also devastated coastal communities in Florida, killing marine life en masse.
Pesticides are a significant contributor to water pollution. Atrazine, one of the most widely used and detected pesticides in the United States, is often found in surface water. Pesticides also harm pollinators, such as the monarch butterfly and native bees, whose populations have declined in recent decades due to these toxins. Farmworkers and their families are also at risk of exposure to pesticides, whether through direct contact with the chemicals, inhalation, or contamination of their clothing.
Livestock and manure also contribute to water pollution. Poultry waste, which contains high levels of phosphorus, can harm waterways through phosphorus runoff. According to the EPA, manure management accounts for 12% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, and globally, it accounts for 14.5%. Manure also releases ammonia, which combines with other air pollutants to create harmful solid particles that can cause heart and lung disease.
Meat diets produce 59% more greenhouse gases than vegetarian ones, with beef being 34 times more damaging to the climate than legumes. Shifting land use to raise livestock also releases stored carbon into the environment and destroys diverse ecosystems.
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Industrial waste
Hazardous waste may result from manufacturing or other industrial processes, and it includes commercial products such as cleaning fluids, paints, or pesticides discarded by commercial establishments or individuals. Non-hazardous industrial wastes are those that do not meet the EPA's definition of hazardous waste and are not municipal waste.
The effects of water pollution are devastating to people, animals, fish, and birds. Polluted water is unsuitable for drinking, recreation, agriculture, and industry. It diminishes the aesthetic quality of lakes and rivers, destroys aquatic life, and reduces its reproductive ability. It can also lead to deadly algae blooms and mutations in freshwater wildlife.
In the United States, industrial waste has contaminated drinking water throughout the country for decades. Hundreds of companies have been responsible for contaminating water sources with arsenic, lead, mercury, chromium, benzene, and other chemicals. In Europe, there have been strict limits for decades that industries must observe when discharging wastewater into public networks. However, in emerging countries such as China, India, Africa, and South America, environmental policies are not yet adequately enforced, leading to the illegal discharge of wastewater from industries into rivers and lakes.
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Oil spills
The effects of oil spills on freshwater sources can be significant. Oil spills can contaminate drinking water supplies, as seen in incidents in Miri, Malaysia; Coca, Ecuador; and Clark County, Kentucky. Oil spills can also harm air quality, with the release of toxic chemicals such as benzenes, toluene, and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons. These chemicals can introduce adverse health effects when inhaled, including respiratory and reproductive problems, liver damage, and immune system damage. Oil spills can also create increased fire hazards and lead to the potential closure of beaches, parks, and fisheries.
The environmental impact of oil spills on aquatic life and ecosystems is also considerable. Oil spills can harm marine wildlife, including birds and mammals, by reducing the insulating and waterproofing abilities of their feathers and fur. Oil-coated animals may also suffer from hypothermia and decreased buoyancy in the water. Oil spills can suffocate fish, block light from photosynthetic plants, and damage shore ecosystems such as saltwater marshes and mangroves. Oil spills can also have economic consequences, affecting industries such as tourism, commerce, and fishing.
Cleanup activities for oil spills can be challenging, and it is impossible to remove 100% of the spilled oil. Scientists must be cautious to avoid causing additional harm during the cleanup process. Natural seepage from the ocean floor and other natural sources of oil contribute further to the pollution of freshwater sources.
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Water pollution's health impact
Water pollution is a global issue that affects human health in a variety of ways. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 80% of the world's diseases and 50% of child deaths are linked to poor drinking water quality. Unsafe water is responsible for more deaths each year than war and all other forms of violence combined, and contaminated drinking water can cause a range of waterborne diseases.
Water pollution has been linked to various health issues, including gastrointestinal illnesses, nervous system disorders, reproductive problems, and chronic diseases such as cancer. In addition, the presence of disease-causing microbes in water can lead to illnesses such as typhoid fever, cholera, and hepatitis, especially in infants and the elderly. These illnesses can cause stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fever, and even kidney failure.
Agricultural activities contribute significantly to water pollution. The use of pesticides, fertilizers, and animal waste in farming can contaminate water sources, leading to what is known as nutrient pollution. This can cause an imbalance of nutrients in the water, leading to eutrophication and toxic algal blooms, which can be harmful to both humans and wildlife. These algal blooms can release neurotoxins, causing additional health issues.
Groundwater, which is a significant source of drinking water, particularly in rural areas, is also vulnerable to pollution. Contaminants from pesticides, fertilizers, and waste can seep into aquifers, rendering the water unsafe for human consumption. Once polluted, an aquifer may be unusable for decades or even thousands of years.
The impact of water pollution on human health is a significant concern, and access to safe drinking water is a basic human right recognized by the UN General Assembly in 2010. However, data on the global state of freshwater ecosystems has been scarce, and efforts are being made to improve monitoring and reporting.
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Frequently asked questions
Only 3% of the world's water is freshwater, and two-thirds of that is tucked away in frozen glaciers or otherwise unavailable for human use.
It is difficult to say exactly how much freshwater is polluted, but it is a widespread problem that is jeopardizing human and wildlife health. According to the World Health Organization, at least 2 billion people drink water from sources contaminated by faeces, and 1.7 billion people use a drinking water source contaminated with faeces.
Freshwater pollution comes from a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, industry, and wastewater treatment plants.
Unsafe water kills more people each year than war and all other forms of violence combined. Freshwater pollution can cause diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhoea, and it is estimated that 1 million people die each year from diarrhoea due to unsafe drinking water.
